186 FEEDING ANIMALS. 



per day, or 1 cent per head, per day; and if the horse-labor 

 and other expenses be added, it will not exceed 2 cents per 

 head, per day, on so large a stock. 



In speaking of the ration above of rye, or corn, it is not 

 intended to imply that a ration may properly be made up 

 wholly of rye or corn fodder. These are good soiling foods, 

 but neither forms a complete ration, and should, when 

 practicable, be mixed with clover or some of the grasses. 

 A mixture of grasses, such as is found in pasture or old 

 meadows, afford such a variety as makes a complete ration. 



Thus it will appear that the labor of soiling is compen- 

 sated in three ways first, in saving fences ; secondly, in 

 saving manure; and, thirdly, in the extra production of 

 milk, meat, wool, or growth. 



SOILING CROPS. 



The success of this system must depend very much upon 

 the skill exercised in the production of the proper soiling 

 crops. It is not proposed to cut meagre green crops for 

 feeding in stall or yard; for the labor which we have just 

 been considering would be too great for any gain to be 

 anticipated. It is expected that the land for soiling will 

 be put in such fine condition as to bear excellent crops, 

 and that these crops be located convenient to the place of 

 feeding. A good crop of rye, clover, etc., will require only 

 one rod or less per day for each animal, whilst a thin crop 

 might require three rods for the same purpose. It is, 

 therefore, most important that we should give careful ' 

 attention to the best crops for cutting green. The crop 

 that may be cut earliest in spring is 



WINTER RYE. This flourishes best on a sandy or grav- 

 elly soil, but will grow large crops on heavy clay loam, if 

 well under-drained. It yields a large supply of green food 

 on soil only moderately rich, as its roots spread out in a 

 thick network over a considerable space, and furnish a 



