172 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



many other plants. But the habit of growth in these 

 sorghums furnishes a large amount of grazing, as they 

 sprout up again when eaten down. 



Among plants of the brassica family, rape is by far 

 the most extensively grown because of its wide distribu- 

 tion and high excellence in providing grazing that is 

 highly palatable and abundantly nutritious. Kale in cer- 

 tain mild areas where it comes safely through the winter 

 has been found most excellent in providing succulent 

 food in the spring. Kohlrabi should be more grown for 

 autumn grazing than it has been heretofore. It will grow 

 under conditions more dry than those suitable for the 

 other plants of this family, and, as with rape, the entire 

 food portion is grown above ground. Cabbage has special 

 adaptation to furnishing late grazing, even later than that 

 furnished by rape, owing to the power which the heads 

 have to resist the influence of frost. White mustard has 

 been but little grown in this country to provide pasture 

 for sheep, though frequently grown in Britain for such 

 a use. It is valued because of its rapid growth, as 

 in a rape field it tends to prevent bloat in the sheep, be- 

 cause it stimulates the early mating of ewes grazed on 

 it, and because it has been noticed that sheep grazed on 

 it usually do well when put upon other good grazing. 



Peanuts and sweet potatoes are not sown primarily 

 to provide grazing for sheep, but when these are grown 

 it is claimed that grazing ofif the tops is a cheap way of 

 removing them. Sheep are fond of them and they are 

 nutritious. 



Turnips are more grown to provide grazing on the 

 field than rutabagas. For such a use the seed is fre- 

 quently sown, as rape is sometimes sown, along with that 

 of small grain, using from one to two pounds of seed per 

 acre. But in mild winter latitudes, as in certain of the 

 mountain states southward, also westward along the 

 Pacific, there would seem to be no good reasons why tur- 



