The colored patriot., 1882-06-22
How a Pasture Is Made.

paid to its adaptaDllltV 10 prOuuce
large amount Of fine rich grasses. The
sill or sod is prepared to receive the
seed. which is selected with special
reference to the production Of grass to
be eaten while in its green state:
Great pains are taken to render the soil
as productive as possible. Water is
SUPPLIED or drained off as the wants OF |
the land require. Weeds and bushes /
are exterminated or kept in subsection.
Fertilizers are applied as they are to
land devoted to cultivate crops. Loose
soils are rendered more compact by the
use of the roller, and very heavy soils |
are losened by the employment OF the |
harrow or scariier. Most farmers III
this country, however, neglect all these
things. Land is not selected for a |
pasture. If it is to rocky, broken or
difficult to cultivate; if it is too wet or too
dry to produce good crops Of corn.
grain, potatoes, or roots it is devoted to
pasturage. Land is selected for other
purposes, but the land for pasturage is
what was rejected as unsuited for any
other use. Sometimes piece OF land
originally productive is devoted to
pasture purposes. Ii this is the case II IS
generally after it g has been cropped to
death" 1t is first planted to corn for
several years, then sown to grain for
period equally long. and then laid down
to grass suited to moving purposes.
After the crop of grass becomes so light
that it scarcely pays for the work OF
cutting, the farmer concludes that the
only thing be can do with the land is to
devote it to supporting stock during the
summer when he expects to make the
most out of them. There are no evil
dences of benefcent design in most OF
tho pastures in this country. They are
the work of chance or neglect.
Most Of the grasses and clOvcrS that
are best for producing hay are the poor
est for affording green food during sum-
mer For the purpose OF converting
into hay we want grasses that mature al
certain period. Ii there is more than
one kind in the same field, it is desirable
to have them all mature at about tho
same time. Very short grasses are not
desired, as it is difficult 10 cut them
very near the ground. The like is true
of clovers. For pasture, however, the
shorter varieties of grasses and clovers
| arc desired. Grasses that have long
stalks have but small amount OF foil
age near the ground. They do not fur
nish shade to the surface of the soil at
| the time it is most wanted to prevent
the roots of the plants from becoming
dry. For a meadow but few kinds OF
grasses are wanted, for if their time OF
maturity is different, and the period re-
quired for them to dry out when cut
varies considerably, they will be hard to
cure. For a pasture, however, we want
grasses that have different habits and
manners of growth. We need some
that will spring up early in the spring
and others that will be in their prime
in the fall. A constant supply of green
leaves is what is needed. This is best
obtained by having several kinds OF
grass and clover Sometimes a single
variety of either, as blue grass or white
clover, will supply what is wanted dur
ing several months. These are excel
lent fodder plants for another reason
they remain in the soil for long time
after they have become well established.
The like is true Of red top, which is sim
guIarly adapted to ground that is some
what moist. Orchard grass is we'll
adapted to pasturaGe, Notwithstanding
it crows tall in field, as i springs up
quickly as soon rs e rs led down
Pastnr~y require care Just rs much as
lad devoted to other purposes. De
sirable vegetation must be kept in and
undesirable vegetation kept out. Places
that become unproductive must be at
tended to before weeds and moss take
possession Of them. If the soil is hard
and poor it should be lOOsencd and en-
richcd. An effort should be made to
seed each kind of soil with the kind OF
grass and clover that is best adapted to
it, Red top will DO best on the land
that is quite moist; Alsike or Swedish
clover will be most productive on soils
that are moderately moist: while white
clover will succeed best. on hill sides.
Some timothy and red clover arc dc
sirablc in every pasture but they
c;GlnOt be relied on to remain very long.
1t is generally best to NOW q pasture
after the grasses have thrown up seed
stalks in the latter part O1 the summer
These stalks will not be eaten. and by
cutting them of the growth of foliage
is encouraged The use Of the moving
machine and scythe is beneficial in de
stroyino many weeds that would other
I
should be rooted out rs soon as they
make IN appearance, for they are likely
to spread and occupy considerable
ground. The droppings Of cattle am
horses should be broken up and scattered
before they become very hard and in
iure the vegetation in the immediate
vicinity of them. If they remain Ions
on the ground where they are deposited
they will kill the grass before them, anC
cause a growth Of rank grass that Stocl
VIII not eat i'm the vicinity OF them. By
scattering them n considerable amour
IF grass /, benefited and none ism iured
Ii practical, other fertilizers than those
produced in the pasture should b,
. scattered over the surface Of the ground
If stable manure Is used. il should bt
tine and we'll rotted. Exchange
An Electric Freak.