218 



0)1 Early Sjjrincj Feed, 



rate of 2^ busliels per acre, and if of that year's growth so much 

 the better, as it is earlier, and more certain of germination. To 

 this a peck of rapeseed per acre should be added ; for although 

 the latter is not able to stand a winter when the frost sets in early 

 and severe, in many cases it will get sufficiently vigorous to resist 

 any ordinary frost, and will much improve the feed in the spring. 

 Should the rape not be sown, a peck of winter-tares per acre will 

 improve the feed, or an additional peck of rye may be added ; as 

 a fuller bite and excited growth in its early stages w^ll be secured 

 — a point gained when wanted to depasture, although it might 

 be injurious if sown for a crop. 



In cultivating rye as feed there need be no fears entertained 

 of its becoming " winter proud," for as that only affects the ears 

 of the corn, it is a circumstance of no importance, and therefore 

 the earlier it is sown the better able it is to resist the early frosts, 

 as well as having a better cover and more feed when wanted. 

 When sown it should be thoroughly harrowed, but not rolled — 

 a double with a pair of fine harrows is sufficient, and the surface- 

 weeds should be gathered off, or the whole raked with the hand, 

 which will more efficiently cover the seed. An advantage is 

 gained to the soil by this ploughing, which cannot be obtained 

 when the land is sown with the vetches. The annual weeds on 

 the old surface are prevented from running to seed, and a new 

 surface is exposed to the air and frost. 



The rye will be fit for consuming the last week in March or 

 the first in April, or if allowed to remain until the middle of the 

 latter month, it will carry a greater quantity of stock. After it is 

 thoroughly eaten up, it should be freed, and by the first week in 

 May will afford another pasture of fine young nutritious feed ; at 

 least, in ordinary seasons. It is bad management, though some- 

 times practised, to allow the rye to remain uneaten until the seed- 

 stalk begins to shoot, for in that case it will become much less 

 palatable and useful. By consuming it young it is much more 

 valuable, and the succession crop equally so as the first. 



The second crop being consumed, the plough must be put 

 into operation, and the soil prepared for the succeeding crop ; 

 and the advantage of its cultivation, by no means a small one, is, 

 that it interferes with no other crop. Perhaps a short digression 

 may be pardoned on the subsequent preparation of the soil. The 

 writer's practice is different to that of most other persons. 

 Usually it is cross-ploughed a fortnight after its first ploughing. 

 Time is thus lost, and the slices are cut into squares difficult to 

 be acted upon by the harrow. The writer begins to harrow as 

 soon as the newly turned up surface of the first ploughing is 

 sufficiently dry. This brings up the lowest part of the roots of 

 the weeds and closes the interstices of the furrows, so that the 



