NORFOLK V. A CROPPING ROTATION 21 



requires two acres of good, and three acres of inferior, 

 pasture, for the summer feeding of a dairy cow, 

 whereas one acre of land properly cropped with forage 

 crops will provide enough green food to feed at least 

 three cows throughout the summer. 



In cropping eight acres of land with summer fodder 

 crops, we are, therefore, providing for the feeding of 

 our twenty cows and leaving a surplus over. It is 

 always well to allow a surplus in farming calculations. 

 Dry or unfavourable seasons may reduce the crop 

 yields, and if a surplus is available it is always possible 

 to turn it into extra fodder for winter feeding. 



Of course, in recommending the entire elimination 

 of pasture land and the substitution of forage crops, 

 one quite expects to be told that it cannot be done. 

 This phrase is the greatest possible hindrance to 

 agricultural advancement. Were the writer, as a 

 successful farmer, asked by a would-be successful 

 farmer for some sound and brief advice, the querist 

 would probably be told to compile a list of all the 

 things that he was told could 7tot be done in farming 

 practice — and then go and do them 1 



PASTURE V. FORAGE CROPS 



On this matter of pasture versus forage crops for the 

 small farmer, anyone familiar with the growing of such 

 crops cannot otherwise regard pasture land, on the 

 small farm at least, than as being little better than 

 waste land. 



The three factors of production to the farmer are 

 land, labour, and capital, and when land is in pasture, 

 excluding derelict land, the minimum is being produced 

 from each factor. In this connection it is well to 

 remember that in such countries as Denmark, Belgium, 

 and Holland forage cropping in place of pasture is the 

 order of the day. 



