CROPPING FOR MOUISTAIN FARMS 121 



a small farmer should leave the seed mixture down for 

 more than two years, however, is where his area is 

 considerable and he has in addition other moimtain 

 land caUing for reclamation. Two years is generally 

 long enough for the small farmer to leave his land in 

 grass. 



Hill land, after being put through a continuous- 

 cropping rotation, can, of course, be kept in grass for 

 a fairly long period, but the cost of doing so and the 

 comparatively poor returns obtained should decide the 

 small farmer to keep on at the tillage. Let there be 

 no resting on the oars. The best grass that ever grew 

 will not bring in the same return as forage-crop growing. 



It is, of course, intended to consume all the crops on 

 the land where they are grown. Even the hay or 

 ensilage which is saved should be fed on the land. In 

 suitable weather the latter food can be given to the 

 stock whilst grazing the winter pasturage and in bad 

 weather will be fed in a movable shed erected in the 

 field, and the manure resulting afterwards carted out 

 and spread. 



The growing crops will, of course, be folded off, by 

 use of a movable fence in case of cattle and by netting 

 where sheep are fed. 



THE WALKING MANURE CART 



Naturally, eating the crops on the land means 

 tremendous labour economy, for not only is all the 

 trouble of carting crops avoided, but, in addition, with 

 the exception of the little manure which accumulates 

 in the sheds and which only has to be carted a few 

 yards, manure carting is also avoided. In short, the 

 stock consuming the crops where grow^n means using 

 the stock as walking manure carts. 



Again, with the exception of a little vetch and some- 



