The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-06-08

mentS on this subj Ct ars from the
pen Of Thomas Shaw, professor Of
Agriculture in the Ontario Agricul
tural College at Guelap:
The attention Of the farmers of
the Dominion has never been suffi-
Gently drawn to the great advan-
tages that flow from. the growth Of
an abundant supply of green food
for the stock of the farm. In this
climate of short and oftentimes dry
summers and OF stern winters,
which forever forbid the successful
growth of permanent pastures Of
the European order and on the
European plan, it will doubtless
prove in the future the great re-
source of the farmer who is bent
upon sustaining the fertility Of his
land through that best Of all sources,
bookkeeping. Some of its advan
tages are:
I. 1t effects saving in land to the
extent Of enabling the farmer with
but 50 acres to raise more beef,
milk, butter or cheese.
than the one with 100 acres who
pays no attention to the growth o
of green folders.
2. 1t effects great saving in
fences, one of the largest items OF
outlay on farm.
3. 1t secures a marked saving in
food, and of ANNA! muscle, in their
not having to search for it.
a. 1t increases the quantity and
quality of the manure to the extent
of at least one-half of all that is
made during the pasturing season.
5. Its effects upon the health
and condition of the animals are
beneficial, since the supply of food
is uniform and sufficient, and they
are free from annoyance, worry
and exposure.
6. Itgreatly increases the quanti-
and quality Of the milk, butter and
beef product.
7. livery much enhances, in the
aggregate, the fertility of the soil.
8. 1t largely obviates the neces
sity Of summer following, through
its antagonism to weed growth.
9. 1t would prove a boon to the
cottar, whose one COW must needs
pasture on the highway.
10. In conjunction with the silo it
provides green food for the stock
all the year, hence every farmer in
the Province alive 10 his own inter
ests will grow greater or smaller
proportion of green folders every
year.
The only objections that can be
urged against it arc:
THAT lack Of exercise will impair
the health of the stock-an objec-
ton that will be answered in sue
ceeding bulletin.
?. The extra labor involved,
which, however, is abundantly
compensated by the increased re-
turns.
The following arc some of the
principal soiling crops best adapted
to Ontario conditions.
I. Winter rye, best sown early
in September; two bushels to the
acre; cut before the blossom APP
pears, and fed, if practicable, in
conjunction with rcd clover.
?. Red clover, yielding two cut
tings per year, and cut until the
time of blossoming.
8. Orchard grass, which may be
grown with clover and cut at same
periods.
4. Lucern, yielding two or more
cuttings a year, and when brought
safely through the first winter,
yields a bountiful crop for years.
1t is best adapted 10 we'll drained
rich loan, inclining to sandy
texture. 1t is not relished by the
stock SO highly as clover.
s. Timothy and mammoth clover
make an excellent green food, the
combination being complementary
to each other in their cons tituents,
and ripening at the same time.
g. Alsike clover and timothy
grown together answer equally
well. By commencing to cut when
the first blossoms appear, this crop
may be fed for three or four weeks.
7. Oats and peas. oats and vetch-
es or tares, or oats, peas and vetch-
es come next, sown mixed, at the
rate of say ~ bushel oats, n
bushel peas and II bushel vetches
to the acre, and at successive inter-
walls Of say 10 days apart. They
make the best ration when the
grain is in the milk, but feeding
may commence when they first
head out.
8. Common millet, Hungarian
grass and Italian millet are all use
full as green folders. They may
be sown from May Ist to July Ist,
u to I bushel of seed to the acre,
and should be cut before or in ear
ly blossom for soiling.
9. Corn is the most valuable of
all green crops for soiling purposes.
1t should be planted in drills for
summer soiling at the rate Of from
II to I bushel of seed to the acre,
from May 24th to June 10th. 1t
may be sown with the grain drill,
from 80 to SO inches apart, and
suitable narrowing after planting
and thorough cultivating are of
much importance. Feeding may
commence when the corn is formed
in the ear.
TO- Rape is valuable for fattening
sheep and cattle, and may be sown
in drills pro6tably on land handled
in the first part Of the season as a
summer-fallow on the same plan
and with the same after manage
ment as in turnip culture it is eat
en- on the land.
A bulletin will follow shortly on
the methods of feeding green fod-