280 THE FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



For all sections where this plant can be grown success- 

 fully it takes first rank as a soiling-crop. In portions of 

 New York, for instance, in favorable seasons it can be 

 cut continuously from about the last of May until 

 October, and no other crop is more thoroughly relished 

 by horses and cattle. It is valuable for horses, even when 

 they are doing hard work. 



376. Soiling-crop area and rotations. — ^The area de- 

 voted to soiling-crops must be determined by the num- 

 ber of animals and the productiveness of the land which 

 is to be used. Voorhees states that seven acres, devoted 

 to the succession of crops which he recommends, will 

 supply twenty-five cows from May 1 to November 1. 

 This estimate would hold only when two or three crops 

 are grown on the same land in a single season, which 

 requires a generous use of manure or of commercial fer- 

 tilizers, or of both. The following are suggestions of pos- 

 sible rotations: 



/"Winter rye, or crimson clover ^Winter wheat 



< Oats and peas -^Cowpeas 

 vSoybeans (.Japanese millet 



/■Qats and peas /Oats and peas 



< Japanese millet < Cowpeas 

 iBarley and peas (.Barley and peas 



S Winter rye, or winter wheat (Crimson clover 



Com J Com 



Some writers estimate the needed area of soiling- 

 crops on the basis of one-quarter to one-half a square 

 rod a day for each full-grown animal, the smaller unit 

 applying to corn and the larger to oats and peas, and 

 similar crops. All this must be a matter of judgment 

 based upon the circmnstances involved. 



