CHAPTER XX 

 THE SOILING SYSTEM 



SOILING means growing green forage, cutting it, and bringing 

 it to the stock, in place of allowing them to eat the green feed 

 where it grows. This system is one that as a rule goes with 

 intensive farming and high-priced lands. It is also practiced 

 in some other regions, on account of the conditions being such 

 that good pasture cannot be had. In many parts of the world, 

 for example, the greater part of Germany, cattle are never 

 grazed. The system is also followed to some extent in the 

 Eastern States. 



When green feeds are used only to supplement pastures 

 for part of the season, it is spoken of as partial soiling. When 

 the animals are sustained entirely on green feed, cut and 

 hauled to them, the plan is called complete soiling. It is not 

 implied in either case that the animals do not receive any feed, 

 such as grain, other than the green feed given, but that green 

 feed constitutes the main part of the ration. On account of 

 the comparative cheapness of land over the greater part of 

 the United States, the system is not as yet practiced only in 

 isolated localities. Its advantages are : 



1. Saving of land. 



2. Saving of fencing. 



3. Better use of the manure. 



4. Animals are kept in better condition. 



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