140 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA. 



and the clover does not come on again so 

 quickly. 



OATS AND ALFALFA PASTURE. 



Oats sown early in spring with clover or 

 alfalfa form an excellent pasture for about 

 two months in late spring and early summer, 

 following the use of rye. Oats should be sown 

 on good soil or should be well fertilized and 

 may be sown rather thickly, as much as two 

 bushels per acre, with about a peck of clover 

 or alfalfa. If the land is well drained, a clay 

 loam, with limestone in it, alfalfa will make 

 the best growth and pasture. Red clover, how- 

 ever, thrives on thinner soils than alfalfa and 

 is the pioneer among the legumes. On any 

 rich limestone clay soils, however, alfalfa is 

 the queen of forage crops from Labrador to 

 the Gulf. In depasturing oats where legume? 

 have been sown with them some judgment miist 

 be exercised else the delicate clovers will suf- 

 fer. It is well to allow the oats to get up 

 about eight inches high, then turn in and per- 

 mit tlie sheep to eat them down pretty close, 

 which should be done in three or four days. 

 If there are not enough sheep to do that, divide 

 the field by temporary fences or hurdles, de- 

 pasturing a part at a time. 



As soon as the oats are eaten down take the 

 sheep otf and let the plants come again. They 

 may thus be repeatedly grazed and the result 

 will be a beautiful stand of clover or alfalfa, 



After midsummer, however, it may be wise 

 to keep the flock entirely off this field, letting 



