254 Sheep-Farming 



relied upon with at least common certainty. The 

 first trials reported with rape for fattening lambs 

 were made in England about 1845. Ten wethers 

 fed on rape alone from August 10 to September 21 

 made an average increase in the six weeks of 20 

 pounds, or 2 pounds per head weekly. 



The most extensive trials in feeding lambs on 

 rape have been carried on at the Ontario Experi- 

 mental Farm. In 1890, 54 acres of rape pastured 

 17 head of steers and 537 sheep, and 1 acre of the 

 rape sustained 12 lambs for two months. It is 

 estimated that the food provided by an acre of rape 

 was worth $16.80. In another trial, rape alone was 

 fed to 60 lambs, and they were kept on 2.18 acres 

 for twenty-five days, during which time they in- 

 creased in weight 390 pounds, or an average weekly 

 increase per head of 1.82 pounds. Again, in an 

 experiment on one-sixth of an acre, 6 lambs were kept 

 for forty-two days, and from this it is concluded that 

 1 acre would have pastured 36 lambs two months 

 and have made 762 pounds of mutton. 



At the Michigan Station, 15 acres of rape pastured 

 128 lambs for seven and one-half weeks, with a total 

 gain of 2890 pounds. At this rate it is estimated 

 that 1 acre would pasture 9 lambs seven weeks, 

 and they would produce 202.5 pounds of increase. 

 It is stated that the field would unquestionably have 

 pastured 10 lambs for the period of ten weeks. 



Rape and pasture. — At the Ontario Station an 



