Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-03-20
Permanent Pastures.

Few general rules are of universal
application in agriculture, therefore the
farmer must constantly exercise sound
Judgment and common sense. No rules
in regard to the time of seeding down
lands to grass, however well it is found
to work in one latitude, applies in
different climate and under different
circumstances. Formerly the practice
of sowing grass in the spring was uni
versal; now it is generally thought best
to seed meadows and pastures in the
fall, mixing no grain with it. There
are some localities, however, where
spring sowing with grain appears to
succeed best.
Whatever time may be chosen for
sowing permanent pasture, it is very
important that the seed bed should be
judiciously selected, thoroughly titled
and properly manured. Other things
being favorable, select when possible a
field containing running water and
some shade, as both are necessary to
the comfort of stock. AS most grasses
thrive better on clay soils than sandy
ones, give the preference to heavy
rather than light lands. Broken lands
lected for pastures as matter of
economy rather than level fields, which
will bring big returns in hoed crops.
On the same principal lands subjected
| to occasional overhows and low lands
that will produce nothing else are
sometimes seeded to pasture with profit.
though these last will yield only in
ferior grasses making less
milk, less flesh and fat in animals than
the same species grown on dry upland
soils.
Having selected the land secure it's
thorough pulverization and manure it
literally if not already rich enough.
Surface manuring is good for grass
lands, and fertilizers abounding in nj
trogen and potash are of great benefit.
Where the seeding has not been done
early in the fall it should be accom-
plished in the spring as early as may
be. Natures plan OF. a variety of kinds
in one field is generally followed by
sowing a mixture adapted to the soil
and also furnishing rotation of
grasses. Seeding heavily insures an
entire covering for the ground and
chokes out weeds.
In pastures, as in meadows, it is ad-
vised to give clover place in the MKT
ure of seed provided. because during
the time it remains in the ground it ac-
COmpl1SQeS Inucn DeucHG. due q hSS 10
excellent for pasture, especially on
light sandy soil; meadow fox-tail with
its early and rapid growth is also de-
sirable Orchard grass is counted among
favorite pasture grasses. owing to the
fact that it comes early in spring, re-
mains late in fall and withstands
drought better than other kinds. Red
top and crested dog stall are valuable
permanent grasses, and varieties usual
ly advised for lawns add further excel
lent kinds for pastures. Forty-fve
pounds of seed to the acre will be found
none too much for permanent pastures.
A mixture which has proved successful
in many sections and which may serve
as somewhat of guide, subject to such
notifications as special circumstances
of soil and climate shah suggest. is as
follows: Perennial rye grass, eight
pounds; Italian rye grass, six pounds
white clover, five pounds; orchard grass
tour pounds; timothy, three pounds
meadow fox-tail, hard fescue, tall fes
cue, meadow fescue, red top, pure grass
wood meadow grass, rough stalket
meadow grass and perennial clover
each two pounds. and yellow oat grass
| one pound -