Partial soiling.
A modification of the soiling system—so-called partial soiling—is practiced by many farmers, and is worthy of serious consideration by dairymen who are anxious to secure maximum returns from their cows. In partial soiling, green forage crops are fed supplementary to pasturage or to hay or straw and concentrated feeds, at the time when the pastures no longer furnish sufficient feed for the stock. This modified soiling system is of the greatest impor tance to American dairy-farmers, and its use is likely to be largely extended in the future with the further developments of our dairy industry.
In case of either complete or partial soiling, a succession of fodder crops is grown that will fur nish green forage at its best stage of growth for feeding as the season progresses. This will be, in the case of complete soiling, from spring to late fall, say May 1 to November 1; in the case of par tial soiling, during late summer and fall. Soiling crops are especially valuable to the dairy-farmer during the latter period, as pastures are then likely to be poor, and cows are greatly annoyed from the heat and flies, if left out-of-doors all day long. The practice has become very general among progres sive dairymen to keep the cows in a darkened stable during the day at this time of the year, where they are fed green crops with some dry roughage and grain, and to let them out on pasture at night. The shrinkage in milk flow that ordinarily occurs at "fly-time" will be largely overcome, or at least reduced so far as possible by a judicious system of soiling and management of the herd, as suggested.
Soiling crops.
Among the large number of crops that have been recommended for soiling and have proved satisfac tory for this purpose, mention of a few of the more important ones will suffice here : winter grains (cut before blooming), peas and oats, alfalfa, clover, vetch, soybeans, millet, cowpeas, corn, sorghum and rape. All these crops are valuable when grown on fertile land and in localities suited to their cul ture. Perhaps no single crop is of more importance and value for soiling than alfalfa, where it can be grown successfully. Peas, corn and rape also rank high as soiling crops, the latter especially for sheep and hogs.
For description of methods of culture and the characteristics of the various crops, reference is made to the special articles dealing with the crops included in the tables.
Rotations of soiling crops.
The details as to growing a succession of soiling crops will necessarily vary, according to the char , acter of the land and the crops adapted to each par ticular locality. If it is desired to feed green crops through the entire season, the following is one of the simplest rotations that can be adopted : (1) Winter wheat or rye, ready to cut and feed during May ; (2) Green clover, for feeding during the early part of June ; (3) Oats and peas, sown as early as possible in the spring, and later two or three times at weekly intervals ; available for feeding during the remain der of June and in July ; (4) Corn or corn and sorghum planted at the usual time, for feeding in August and September ; (5) The land occupied by oats and peas when cleared may be sown to millet or barley, for feed ing during the fall months.
The following crops for partial soiling are recom mended by Jordan : Three sowings of peas and oats in May and early June and two plantings of corn, one at the usual time, the other two weeks later. These crops will furnish a supply of green feed when this is most likely to be needed. Quincy included four crops in his system, viz., early clover (for feeding during May and June), oats (for July), corn (for August), second growth of clover or grass (September to October 15), tops of carrots and turnips, cabbages (October 15 to November).
Special rotations for soiling crops have been recommended by various authorities, and the farmer has the choice of a variety of crops that may be grown for this purpose. In deciding on a system of rotation to be adopted, he should consider the kinds of crops that will do best under his special conditions of farming, that will furnish green for age at the time when wanted and are especially adapted for feeding the kinds of stock kept. The rotations suitable for soiling included below are given as guides for farmers living in the states mentioned, or under similar agricultural conditions. While they need not and in many cases probably cannot be followed in every detail, they will prove useful (as helpful outline plans) to farmers located in different sections of the country, who intend to adopt the soiling system of feeding cattle and other classes of live-stock.