The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-06-09
Neglected Forage Crops.

1t may, no doubt, be argued with too
much truth, that all forage crops are too
much neglected, SO far as the mode of
their cultivation is concerned, but this
is not what we are driving at in the cap
ton of the present article. Neglect in
the way of not attempting to cultivate
them at all, is what we have in view,
rather than negligent culture. How
many farms are wholly innocent of all
forage crops but hay and straw? No
fodder corn, no roots, no rape, no cab
bages. Now that Winter has set in,
there is nothing to feed out that will sup
ply the place Of the succulent heritage of
the Summer time and early Fall. Only
dry hay and still dryer straw, and such
grain as can be spared from the market,
are offered to tempt the appetites which
crave juicy plants for their full satisfac-
ton. How much better provided for the
wants of the stock in Winters, is the
farmer who has abundance of carrots for
his horses, mangolds, cabbages and tur-
nips for his meat cattle and sheep, and
succulent corn-stalks for all, than he who
has only dry forage in store. These neg
lected forage crops are not hard to grow.
Considering the effect they have upon
land in smothering weed growth, and
leaving the soil in the best possible con-
dition for succeeding crops, there are
other arguments for their cultivation,
besides the all-sufhcient one of providing
a varied and attractive bill of fare for the
animals kept on the farm Some of
these crops from their special suitable
ness for the use Of sheep, offer the further
advantage that they 90 far to meet the
grand practical difficulty in the way of
good real farming, which arises out of
the scarcity OF manure, and the expense
connected with working and hauling it,
On light soils. especially, where sheep,
according to the old proverb, have golden
feet, the benefit accruing from the plan
OF manurlng, cannot be overestimated
Grow vetches, rape, or kohl rab upon a
bit of ground you want to enrich. fold
sheep on il, and when the crop is eaten
off the land will be fit for any crop YOU
may desire to put in. No forking over
of manure, no time and laber spent in
hauling it out to the field; there it is lust
as you want it; evenly distributed, free
from liability to waste, every rainfall
washing its virtue into the SOIL 1t NAV
be argued that there is cost and trouble
connected with the folding of sheep: but.
beyond the preparation of hurdles in the
first instance, the cost and trouble are
very trifing. HurdIe-making is nice
Winter job. ANY man vino cannot make
a sheep-hurdle is too stupid and useless
to cumber the ground of farm. If vou
make them at odd times in the Winter,
the only expense will be that of labor,
and that will not exceed twenty cents
apiece. Now is the time to reflect on
the oyersights and errors of the past, and
to form plans of better farming next
year, and in all coming time. Lei these
forage crops be neglected no longer. Set
apart the cleanest and best piece of land
on the farm for turnips. Economic and
exc out the manure all Winter so as to
have rs much as possible TO put on the
turnip land next Summer Ifthere i a |
bit of rich ground that is dirty with /
weeds, resolve to devote that to green
forage, to be fed off by the sheep. Saw
not, Il have only half dozen or a
dozen sheep, but consider how you can
get more; for one might as well try to |
farm well without proper tools as try to I
farm without flock of sheep-Canada |
Farmer