24 THE BUSINESS OF DAIRYING 



The dairyman should, as far as possible, select 

 crops that can be successfully grown on his farm 

 and should avoid those which might contribute an 

 undesirable flavor to his dairy products, as, for 

 example : rape, turnips, etc. 



Partial soiling. — This consists in feeding forage 

 crops supplementary to pasturage or to other foods 

 at a time when pastures furnish an insufficient sup- 

 ply. The system is a common practice with many 

 farmers and aids very materially in keeping the 

 milk flow uniform throughout the summer months. 



Whether complete or partial soiling is practiced, 

 a succession of crops must be provided which will 

 furnish a continuous supply of forage at the proper 

 stage of growth for feeding as the season advances, 

 or say from May ist to November ist. It is a com- 

 mon practice among progressive dairymen to keep 

 the cows in a darkened stable during the day when 

 the pastures are dried up and the cows annoyed by 

 the heat and flies. They are fed forage and some 

 dry coarse foods and grain, and turned out at night. 



Crops for soiling. — As it is not the purpose of this 

 book to discuss crops except in so far as they relate 

 to business methods in dairy farming, it will suffice 

 to mention here only a few of the more important 

 of the great variety of crops which have been recom- 

 mended for soiling. 



The following succession was used by the author 

 in New Jersey and would be applicable to other of 

 the Middle Atlantic and the Central States: 



Rye. — The herd was fed a half ration of green rye 

 ^bout May ist, and in the course of a week a full 



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