FOOD 263 



treading down the soil. If roots are pulled and given to 

 sheep they should be sliced. 



Feeding off 'root crops' with sheep and folding the 

 animals on the land is an important part of husbandry, for 

 in this way the land is prepared for the cereal crop which 

 in rotation follows roots. 



Turnips, swedes, and kohl-rabi constitute the main 

 winter keep of sheep. Sometimes mangel leaves and 

 turnip tops are used as green food, but they are very liable 

 to scour and should be limited in quantity. 



Rape is a plant closely allied to the turnip and swede. It 

 is cultivated for the leaves and not for the root. There are 

 two varieties, dwarf and giant. It produces an early green 

 crop, and is essentially used for sheep. 



Cabbage and Kohl-rabi belong to the same family. They 

 are good feeding for sheep prior to the use of swedes. 

 Cabbage is also given to cattle, being greatly appreciated by 

 milch-cows, but it imparts a taste to the butter unless all 

 decayed leaves are removed ; it should be sliced and mixed 

 with the hay. 



As winter feeding for store stock the above may be given 

 with pea or oat straw, or with hay to fattening stock. 

 Kohl-rabi gives an excellent taste to milk and butter, though 

 there are some who do not like it as a food. 



Another member of the cabbage family is the Thousand- 

 headed Kale, which is useful in backward seasons for sheep, 

 between ' roots ' and grass. 



Carrots and parsnips are used as succulent fodder, the 

 former particularly for horses though cattle are equally 

 fond of them. 



Carrots are most beneficial for sick and debilitated horses ; 

 they are slightly diuretic and laxative. They induce 

 appetite when mixed with the ordinary food, and are an 

 article of the greatest value in the hospital. There is 

 no food of which the horse is so inordinately fond, he 

 will even try when dying to find the needful effort to 

 masticate them. Carrots form an excellent change in diet 

 for horses, and should always be given if obtainable. 



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