SOILING CROPS. 9 



succulence of the foods usually exercises a whole- 

 some influence on the health of the stock. 



In the absence of soiling foods it is hardly pos- 

 sible for the farmer to keep his animals through all 

 the year in what may be termed a well balanced con- 

 dition. When he depends wholly on pastures during 

 the summer season these may fail. When they do 

 his animals suffer proportionately. On the other 

 hand, if the pastures are superabundant there is 

 waste. When pastures lose their succulence, the 

 milk flow from milk-giving animals is proportion- 

 ately reduced, and no after feeding will wholly 

 restore it, howsoever suitable it may be. As the 

 character of the season cannot be foreseen, farmers 

 are wise who make provision for a possible shortage 

 in pasture by sowing more or less of one or more 

 crops to provide soiling food. If the best possible 

 returns are to be obtained from animals, they 

 must be well supplied with food every day in the 

 year. When animals are fed in whole or in part 

 on soiling foods, they may frequently be kept 

 nearer at hand than when not so fed, hence 

 their needs can be more easily met. When 

 the days are hot they may be more easily 

 housed. In the time of flies they may be more easily 

 protected from the same by keeping them in cool, 

 darkened sheds or stables during the heat of the day. 

 In hot weather they can be left out in paddocks over 

 night, and in cold weather they can be housed. Such 

 attentions have a marked influence in maintaining 

 an equilibrium of condition. 



The use of soiling foods conserves animal energy 

 by lessening that waste which arises from undue 



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