148 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



valuable fodder crops for sheep, the well known alfalfa 

 may be grown in a dry climate, where clover its near rela- 

 tivedoes not succeed. Under good culture alfalfa will 

 yield several cuttings in the season. In Italy, where it is 

 known as lucern, it is extensively grown for feeding, and is 

 cut several times in the Summer, making a growth" of 

 eighteen inches between the cuttings. This great growth is 

 procured by irrigation, and the same practice prevails in 

 Chili, in South America, where it is called alfalfa, the Span- 

 -ish name of it. The plant has been introduced into Cali- 

 fornia, where it thrives exceedingly on the tule lands, or the 

 flat river bottoms, without actual irrigation, and as it is 

 naturally used to dry, warm climate, it is one of the best 

 feeding crops for sheep, either for ordinary pasture or for 

 feeding in racks or in plots, separated by hurdles. This 

 plant will grow where clover will not, and is one of the most 

 valuable for the shepherd. The seed is sown on well 

 plowed land at the rate of fifteen pounds to the acre, pref- 

 erably in drills, so that the land may be cultivated itn the 

 early growth of the crop. Oiuce established it lasts twelve 

 or more years in the ground. 



Winter rye is a useful plant for feeding sheep. On good 

 land it may be made to furnish pasture all the Winter, ex- 

 cept of course when it is covered by snow, and even then 

 the sheep will reach it if the snow is not too deep, by paw- 

 ing off the snow. For this purpose the seed should be 

 sown thickly, at least three or four bushels to the acre, 

 and as early as possible to get a good seeding. It will 

 afford pasture if desired only for this purpose, until the 

 corn is planted, when the refuse turned under makes an ex- 

 cellent fertilizer. Where the snow falls lightly, and stays 

 but a short time, this crop will be found one of the best 

 for this use, and cheaply grown. It is said that this crop 

 will continue to grow and make good pasture for two or 

 three years, .as it will not mature unless it forms seed 

 heads. But this is stated, not on personal information, but 

 on current report. It is a common practice on farms to pas- 

 ture this and some other crops by penning the sheep in 

 hurdles, or any kind of light portable fences. Hurdles are 

 made in a simple manner in the way show r n further on, of 

 split saplings of chestnut or other woods, and the pointed 



