160 YARDS AND YARDING 
Crops to Use.—The following system of crop rotation has been 
found to work out very satisfactorily where a double yard is used 
for one pen: : 
Date. Yarp A. Yarp B. 
March to April 30...........Peas and oats............ Feeding 
April 30 to May 25.......... Feeding................- Peas and barley 
May 25 to June 15.......... Dwarf Essex, rape........Feeding 
June 15 to July 10........... Wee gS 5s eet sade a vnye eke Buckwheat and oats 
July 10 to August 1......... Buckwheat.............. Feeding 
August 1 to August 20....... Feeding................. Cow peas and millet 
August 20 to September 20...Rye. vetch, clover........ Feeding 
September 20 to December 1.Feeding................. Rye and vetch 
The dates mentioned are for the latitude of Philadelphia and 
will vary slightly with location, but the crops mentioned will grow 
well in most parts of the country. The birds should not be allowed 
to feed on any crop until it is from four to six inches tall; if allowed 
on the crop too soon it will not last so long. 
In following the above scheme, the rye and vetch which were 
seeded in yard B about September 20 should be allowed to grow 
until planting time in the spring; they will then furnish green feed 
until the spring-planted crops are ready. 
It is not necessary to plow the yards for each planting. Two 
plowings, spring and fall, are sufficient on most soils. A cultivator 
will serve for preparing the ground, and a smoothing harrow for 
covering the seed when sown broadcast. 
The average cost of growing and feeding succulent green feed 
by the above system was found by actual experiment to be only 
five cents per hundred pounds. The feed grown on outside land 
and carried to the birds costs eleven cents per one hundred 
pounds. 
Methods of Double Yarding.—There are three general plans 
for constructing double yards (Fig. 107). 1. On many poultry 
plants where the semi-community system is used it is best to pro- 
vide two front or two back yards. The large single yard which is 
commonly found may be divided, and will give an abundance of 
room for the growing of crops. 
2. On extensive plants where long houses are used, it may be 
possible to have front and back yards, planning the rotation so 
that in fall and winter the birds will be ranging in the front yards 
while a crop is growing in the back yards for use in early spring. 
During the summer both yards should be rotated as often as 
possible. 
