PROPER PERIOD AND MODE OF CONSUMPTION. 181 



occur when it is intended to use it in a dry state, as hay, 

 for which purpose the crop can be allowed to remain stand- 

 ing until it has reached the desired growth, and then be 

 cut, and its further maturity entirely arrested, thus secur- 

 ino- the whole of it in its most nutritive condition. As 



o 



the crop, however, is commonly required for consumption 

 in a green state, and for a continuous period, a little con- 

 sideration should be given as to the most advantageous 

 period of commencing to use it, so that it shall all be con- 

 sumed before it has passed the period of its maturity, and 

 decay and depreciation has commenced. To do this suc- 

 cessfully requires an estimate of the probable produce of 

 the crop, and of the quantity required for eacli day's con- 

 sumption. If this be carefully considered, a pretty correct 

 calculation may generally be made as to how long the 

 crop will last, and then it may be allowed to continue its 

 growth until it is required for use. It is clearly as un- 

 profitable to commence using it too early, as to leave any 

 of it standing too late. In each case a certain amount ot 

 food is lost, which a little observation and judgment on 

 the part of the farmer can readily prevent. 



Whether for soiling cattle in the homestead, or for feed- 

 ing sheep on the ground, it is always better to cut the 

 required supply at two periods, morning and evening, each 

 day, than all at once, as if allowed to remain lying in a 

 heap, it is very liable to ferment and heat, and in that 

 state is always less palatable to the cattle, and a portion 

 of it is sure to be refused and wasted. In folding and 

 feeding it off by sheep, it is far more economical to cut it 

 and serve it to them in racks on the stubble of the previous 

 day's patches, than to fold them on the growing crop. 

 The sheep not only feed much more satisfactorily upon 

 the fresh untrodden fodder served in the racks, but the 

 crop carries them much longer, by being more perfectly 

 and economically consumed, the manure is 'more equally 



