The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-21
Improving Prairie Sod.

Chicago Times.
The native grass that covers the prairies in
those portions Of the West where there is con-
siderable rainfall affords excellent feed for stock
during several months of the year 1t does not,
however. spring up sufficiently early in the sea-
son to afford good feed when animals are first
turned cut to Craze Ii is also likely 30 become
thin after it has been eaten off close for several
years. Many farmers who desire better pastur-
age than that afforded by native prairie grass
break the sod, and after raising fax, corn, and
small grains on the land few years seed 1t
down to mixed grasses and clover. These are
cut and cured for hay till most OF the clover
and timothy disappears, when the land is de-
voted to grazing purposes. 1t takes several
years to obtain good pasture in this way, and
calls for q large expenditure Of time and money.
II the land 10 nearly level and the soil of about
the same quality, an excellent pasture may be
obtained by subduing the native sod and intro
ducing o mixture of improved grasses and
clovers, and by giving it occasional top
dressing it may be kept productive for many
years.
more economical method of obtaining a good
pasture, however is to introduce the improved
grasses and clovers on the native sod. The la
Dor required to effect this change is small and
the outlay Of money is confined to the amount
required to obtain seed. The ground continues
to produce food for stock till the new fodder
plants have obtained a start. It can be prepared
for the seed by burning it over during the latter
part of the summer calm day being selected
for the purpose. The heat will destroy the roots
of the native grasses that are near the surface
OF the ground, and thereby leave space in which
the seed can terminate. A scarifier or harrow
can be employed to good advantage to break
the sod sufficiently to afford the seed q
chance to rest on mellow SOIL But small
amount of earth is necessary TO cover the seed,
as it should not be buried deeply. The seed can
be sown on the scratched surface of the ground
and the first rain will wash sufficient amount
of soil over it to afford the best conditions to Sc
cure termination. A very loose soil Is unfavor-
able to the termination of small seeds.
The grasses and clovers to be introduced on a
native prairie sod should be selected with refer
ence to the character of the soil and the eleva-
tions of the surface. If the soil is of nearly uni
form quality and the surface nearly fat, a
mixture of timothy, red-top, orchard and blue
grass, with some common red and Alsike clover,
will insure a most elegant assortment of
forage plants. If there is variety of SOILS
however. and part OF the land is much higher
and dryer than others it is best to try and intro
ducs the kind of grass and clover that will sue
coed best ON each kind of land. Red-top and
meadow-grass do exceedingly we'll somewhat
moist soils, but they are entirely unsuited to
soils that are high and dry Re0-top will grow
in dry soils and on elevated positions, but it will
have seantv foliage while the stalks will be hard
and wiry Alsike or Swedish clover is most suit
able for tolerably moist land, and it is very
valuable plant to raise in pastures. It will re-
main in the soil much longer than common red
clover, and will afford better food for stock
Blue grass has no superior for land Astounding
in lime, and which is moderately dry. 1t re-
quirss several years. however. for the plants to
become OF a size to occupy the land even when
considerable seed is sown. Once introduced,
however, it will remain in the ground for
unlimited time, and will afford more food every
year. Orchard grass Is very valuable Tor past
1t starts very early in the spring, will stand
constant feeding without injury, will produce
more food than any fodder plant that requires
no cultivation. and is preferred by all kinds Of
stock. 1t will flourish in partial shade, but is
not adapted to land that Is very moist or very
dry 1t is not a good grass to introduce on land
that is likely to be required for cultivation. as
it's nature is to form hassocks and to make an
uneven sod that is very hard to break. When
inverted by the pillow it does not decompose like
the sod formed by the roots of most grasses
Timothy. especially when mixed with other
grasses, makes an excellent fodder plant, which
springs up early in the season. AS the seed s
much cheaper than that of orchard or blue grass,
it can be introduced at comparatively small ex-
pense.
White clover Is very valuable plant for a
pasture, especially one in which sheep are kept.
AS the seed is expensive, few farmers can afford
to sow nauch of it. It is desirable to make lit
tie go a long way. 1t is good plan to SOW small
amount of seed in few suitable places and to al.
low the plants raised to spread over the adjacent
ground, as they will by means of their creeping
branches. II the droppings of cattle be broken up
early in the spring and scattered about, pinch
of white clover seed can be planted on the ground
that was covered by them and a good stand be
obtained. The grass roots that were covered by
the dung will be likely to be killed. while the
soil will be very rich. The plants produced on
piece of land foot in diameter will, in few
years, extend over large space. In introducing
grasses and covers into the native sod it is best
to commence on the side from which the prevail
ing wind comes as it will aid in scattering Seeds
when the nlants are old enough to produco them.
over the rest of the pasture land. Red-top and
blue glass furnish, if they are not moved, a
large amount of seed which is scattered by the
wind over the land in the vicinity.