GREEK CROPS FOR SHEEP. 429 



crop to begin with, which, being fed off by sheep, with the 

 addition of linseed-meal and oats, corn, or some nitrogen- 

 ous food, the land would be well-prepared for the winter 

 vetch, and the winter vetch would prepare it for clover, and 

 clover would prepare it for any crop. The land need not 

 be plowed more than k% to 5 inches deep for vetches ; but 

 should be worked into a very fine tilth before the seed is 

 drilled in, at the rate of two bushels per acre. The time 

 for seeding is the same as for wheat. 



The spring vetch is also much grown in Europe, and may 

 be grown in this country where spring grain succeeds better 

 than winter; but the spring vetch should be planted as 

 early as the condition of the soil will permit. A frost 

 occurring after the seed is sown will not injure the plant 

 any more than it does the pea. On early land, the spring 

 vetch may be brought forward so as to furnish pasture early 

 in June ; but care must be taken not to feed it close, as 

 this will much retard its future growth.^ 



PEAS AS A PASTURE CROP. 



As we are considering what crops may be grown for 

 feeding sheep in summer, and at the same time result in 

 the improvement of the soil, we must not omit tHe common 

 field pea. This crop has not been adequately appreciated 

 as a renovator of the soil. It has been little used as a 

 green pasture crop, either in this country or in Europe, 

 most of our farmers thinking it only adapted for being cut 

 at maturity. But when sown thickly upon properly-pre- 

 pared land, and fed off at six to eight inches high, it starts 

 again immediately, and makes a vigorous new growth, the 

 ground being more closely covered the second than the first 

 time. This has been our experience on several trials. But 

 the sheep must not be permitted to feed it closely, and 

 should, therefore, be passed over the ground before they 

 have time to do this. If the season is favorable, peas may 



