Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-06-03
Perm Pastures.

naturally brought the subject Of per-
manent pastures more prominently
before a large number OF farmers
than have heretofore given it atten-
ton. Good pasture, with the pre-
sent system OF dairying in this coun-
try, and especially at the West, is in
dispensible to the success of that in
terest. Perhaps when the country
becomes older and the land has rea
ched a value demanding greater
economy, "soiling' will be adopted,
but at present and for a long time to
come, doubtless soiling will be the
exception, and pasturing the rule.
BY permanent pasture, we mean
land laid down to grass to be used
for number of years as pasture,
and such as is not well adapted to
the grain and root crops. Frequently
it happens that there are lands upon
the farm which are especially adapt
ed to grazing purposes by reason of
popularity OF soil, natural water
courses, etc.; and again it is often
the case that fields have been in cul-
tivation So long without having. re-
turned to them the elements of which
they have been depleted, that it is
necessary to put them into grass to
assist in restoring their fertility. In
the last instance it is necessary, in
order to accomplish speedily the OF
ject sought, to treat it as its wants
indicate. 1t should be rendered
mellow-put in fine tiltn-the soil
pulverized, comminuted thoroughly,
and heavily manurel. A crop OF
corn or roots will readily suggest the
method Of attaining this condition.
When this preparatory crop is re-
moved in the Fall, the land should
be plowcd in ridges and left to the
influences Of frost during the Winter.
A thorough dragging or double har
rowing in the Spring will make a
finely pulverized seed bed.
There is much difference of opin-
ion as to the proper time to SOW grass
seed. 1t Is well known that there is
a difference of opinion among practi-
cal farmers on this point, even in the
same locality, some maintaining that
the danger from Summer.killiug by
reason of drouth TO Spring sowing, is
more to be dreaded than Winter kill
irg from Fall sowing. But for land
treated in the manner above indica:-
ed the seed should be sown in the
Spring as soon as the ground is
sufficiently dry and warm, and
brushed in or covered lightly with
harrow.
The amount Of seed to the acre
varies with the kind to be sown, but
as a rule so pounds is very good
average. If it were not for the
difficulty Of obtaining various kinds
of seed, we should strongly recon-
mend the use of number Of species.
And in view of the benefit which
would result from it, we have no
hesitation in suggesting mixture Of
a number of those which blossom at
different periods, so that a luxuriant
growth of nutritious grass may be
afforded for tae stock throughout
the season.
Professor Chas. L. Flint, in his
work on Grasses and Forage Plants,
giTes the folio wing as a good mixture
for permanent pasture:
E.t... pounds
Meadow Foxtail. Towering in May and
Orchard Grass, towering May and June. 6
Sweet Scented Vcrral, Towering in April
and May.
Meadow Fescue, lowering in May and 2
June.
Redtop, Towering in June and July. 2
Ken lucky Blue Grass, Towering in May 4
and June.
Italian Rye Grass, Towering in June. 4
Perennial Rye Grass, Towering in jane 6
Timothy, towering in June and July. 3
Rough Stalkei Meadow, lowering in June
and July.
Perennial Clover, Towering in June and
White Clover, towering from May tie 5
September,
Total. 40.
1t is rot probable that many farm
ers are prepared to avail themselves
of so great variety of seed in
mixture, but there can be no doubt
that an approach to it would be much
better than to sow to single crop,
or even three or four kinds. In many
places and on different farms in the
same region perhaps the same varie-
tics will not succeed alike. This
difficulty can only be determined by
experience; and to ascertain what
varieties will succeed the best, where
such knowledge has not already been
gained, it is certainly advisable to
test as many kinds as can be obtain
ed without too great expense, to
determine this point.
From tables showing how many
seeds there are in an ounce of the
different kinds, it is ascertained that
in the above mixture Of 40 pounds
there are 100000 seeds, and as
there are 6,272, $40 inches in an acre,
it will be found that 40 pounds give
about eight seeds to the square inch.
This is large seeding, but as con-
siderable margin is necessary for bad
seed, imperfect seeding, and the
number of plants destroyed in one
way or another, it is probably not
too large.
With an early and favorable SEE
son Tin latitude of about AZ degrees,)
the seed being sown as indicated
above, Midsummer will witness
good growth of grass. The condi-
ton OF the land and the new roots of
the plants forbid turning stock, and
especially heavy animals, on to this
pasture until the sod is well set. 1t
will not injure it to turn sheep on to
it after it gets good start, and
while the weather is dry, but it should
not be pastured too closely. The
judgment of the farmer will indicate
to him whether the pasture is fit for
any kind of stock the first year or
not. If the grass is rank and strong,
it will aid it materially in making roo,
to Craze it off with light stock. But
every hoof should be taken from it in
time to enable it to make sufficient
growth to protect the roots during
the Winter. The after treatment of