210 



THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



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ing lot, and giving it in suitable racks. A large quantity of 

 dry fodder may be saved in this way for Winter use, for as 

 fast as one plot is fed off, the land is immediately sown or 

 planted with another; and it is this succession which makes 

 this method of feeding so cheap and profitable. It is used 

 in dairies for feeding cows, and under this system one 

 square rod of ground feeds a cow one day, thus making one 

 acre and one crop feed 160 days. This is equivalent to seven 

 sheep. By good management, as by having crops come in 

 succession, two and even three may be grown on the same 

 laud in the Summer. 



The chief crop is sweet 

 corn, the earliest of which 

 planted in this way, three 

 times as thickly as for a grain 

 crop, may mature in sixty 

 days. This may be followed 

 as soon as cut by another 

 planting. Indeed, the cutting 

 and planting go on simulta- 

 neously, for as fast as a strip 

 of ground is cleared, the plow 

 is put in and this land planted 

 or sown at once. 



The most suitable crops for this system of feedijng are 

 sweet corn, mixed oats and peas. Sorghum (which may be 

 cut three times), rape, and one plot of orchard grass, which 

 affords constant pasture if well distributed through the 

 whole season, from April until the snow flies. Turnips or 

 rape may be sown on the last corn, to add to the feeding 

 season. Suggestions in this way only need to be given, the 

 intelligent reader will suit himself according to his circum- 

 stances, only following the general plan of always having 

 something growing, and no land idle a single day during the 

 growing season.. In this way every farmer may find it 

 easy, and exceedingly profitable, to feed a flock that may 

 bring in five or six dollars a head every year, and at the 

 same time add considerably to the products of the land 

 by its enrichment through the manure made. This is most 

 important for every farmer to consider. 



*PLAS 0V BHEEP-TARD. 



