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XXI. — On Early Sjyrlng Feed. By Matthew M. ^Iilburn. 



PRIZE ESS.VY.) 



The increased quantity of stock wliicli the farmer is enabled to 

 keep by the introduction and successful cultivation of green 

 crops, requires his best attention to furnish them with a constant 

 supply of green food, especially such portion of his stock as are 

 not intended for fattening. The use of the artificial grasses on 

 arable land in summer, and of turnips in the winter, has been 

 brought as near perfection as may be ; but it is quite certain that 

 the wants of the sheep and cattle, from the time when the 

 turnips are consumed to that when the grasses become avail- 

 able, are not equally well provided for. In order, as far as 

 possible, to remedy this deficiency, recourse has been had to 

 the cultivation of turnips which long retain their nutritious 

 qualities, and the sv/ede has been truly invaluable for this pur- 

 pose. But while these roots have furnished very palatable and 

 nutritious food for one portion of the stock, they have altogether 

 failed for the young — the principal object of the breeder's 

 anxiety. For as \\e\l as having an abundant flow of milk from 

 the dam, every breeder is desirous of training the young stock to 

 help themselves as soon as there is food of a proper quality 

 available for them : and if the young lambs in particular are 

 kept from green food until they are turned into the gross clover 

 leys with their dams, there is great danger that a portion of them 

 will be lost. It is generally desirable to keep the clover leys 

 free at least until May, and long before that time the young 

 stock should be trained to eat a considerable portion of green 

 food. 



With the view of supplying this want, several crops have been 

 cultivated for early feed in the spring, with greater or less success, 

 and under greater or less disadvantage, according to circum- 

 stances, but the farmer who occupies a poor soil is, more than 

 any other, under the necessity of grappling with the difficulties 

 he may have to contend with ; for lateness of vegetation and 

 certain destruction of his crops of grass are sure to be the conse- 

 quence if he break into them before they attain a proper degree 

 of maturation-, and yet he has also the greatest difficulties to sur- 

 mount in cultivating any spring crop. 



The farmer, on the other hand, who cultivates rick fertile land 

 where he has a deep alluvial soil, growing every crop luxuriantly, 

 can easily free a pasture early in the autumn, and have it full of 

 young grass as early as he may require it, and knows nothing of 

 the difficulties which attend his less favoured neighbour. 



The avidity with which any new variety of grass or plant 



VOL, II. Q 



