CHAPTER VII 



Growing Crops for Succulence 



Farm stock relish succulent feeds. They give 

 the best account of themselves when abundantly 

 supplied with pastures or roots or green crops. 

 This is true, not only of cattle, but of hogs, sheep, 

 swine and poultry. Animal life has been so long 

 adjusted to succulence and vegetable juices that to 

 withhold these for any length of time is to invite 

 loss along all lines of production; nor do animals 

 thrive so well when these are withheld. When 

 spring comes with its rejuvenating influences mani- 

 fested in all directions, farm stock eagerly leave 

 their dry foods, however rich in nutrition they may 

 be, and revel in the green grasses along the road- 

 side or in the pasture field. You are familiar with 

 the result — better quality, more thrifty growth, 

 more meat, more milk. 



Taking the year all around, good pastures are not 

 available for any great length of time ; hence where 

 well-bred farm animals are appreciated, an im- 

 portant problem in farm management arises as to 

 the best method of extending the pasture season 

 as long as possible. Succulent food may be pro- 

 vided by pasture, soiling crops, silage and root 

 crops. They may be just a bit inferior to May and 

 June grazing, but as substitutes they satisfactorily 

 fill the bill. Good silage, after all, is but slightly 

 inferior to green corn. Soiling crops are next best 

 to grasses, and roots for fall and winter are not to 

 be despised. 



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