238 FEEDING 



and will be relished. A common way to feed them is to cut 

 them in halves and hang them on the wall with a spike. 

 The birds will eat the inside, and leave only the outer shell. 

 There are various other root crops, such as potatoes, carrots, 

 turnips, etc., but they should be fed only as a by-product. 



GRASSES AND QREEN CROPS 



There is every reason for keeping the yards and ranges 

 covered with growing green grass, for this materially re- 

 duces the cost of feed, and tends towards cleanliness. 



Fig. 131. — Mangel beets make the best winter succulence for poultry. The 

 beets on the left of this picture are shown with the leaves on; those in the center 

 have been topped and the green leaves fed to the birds; those at the right have 

 been pulled ana are shown in small piles, drying before storing in pits or root cellars. 



Two Methods of Providing Green Feed. — The birds can 

 be provided with green feed during the simamer in either of 

 two ways. Growing it in the yards is best. But if the yards 

 are small, and this is impossible, it can be grown on separate 

 plots, and, after harvesting, be carried to the birds. 



Crops to Use. — Alfalfa or clover is the best crop to yield 

 summer succulence. When the yards are large, and kept 

 permanently sodded, clover, alfalfa, and blue grass are all 

 desirable (Fig. 132). An excellent combination is clover 

 and blue grass. If the yards are only of medium size and 

 only one seeding can be made, a good stand of Swiss chard 



