The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-06

Philadelphia Record.
Grass intended for hay and grass grown for
pasturing stock should be different in quality.
1t Is 10 doubt true that hay is best when it con-
sists of variety of grasses, but as long as
clover and timothy are more easily grown and
cut than mixed grasses, but few changes are
probable in that respect But the pasture
should be made special matter, as the advan-
ages OF q good permanent pasture cannot be
overestimated, and the pasture, to furnish the
greatest amount OF nutrition, should consist of
a variety Of all the grasses that are adapted to
the soil. The majority of pastures are those on
which the natural grasses spring up; but there
is nothing to prevent the seeding down of pre-
ferred kinds that may give better advantages
There is always an objection to blowing an old
sod that has done service for years. and the de-
sire to retain old pastures often prevents the
curing of something better. But time tells on
pastures, and they soon fail to provide plentiful
heritage. their occupancy by stock being only
waste of time and labor. Very often some par
ticular variety of grass, which may be lacking in
nutrition, compared with other kinds assumes
the right to crowd out the others, and finally
overruns the entire field, while weeds gradually
spring up and seed themselves until more dam
age than benefit is done to the milk from COWS
depending upon the pasture.
With hay crops the land is benefited, because
there is usually rotation. Glover, which de-
lights in potash SOIL yet returns nitrogen, pre-
pares the land for cereal crops while the grain
which usually requires cultivation. cleans out
the weeds and better fits the land for grass again.
No doubt the same process would be of advant-
age for an old pasture. If the sod be turned un-
der in the fall and the field planted to corn in
the spring, provided the land be not too wet the
cultivation of the corn will kill out the weeds
After the corn is off, the weeds and grass should
be allowed to start well. and the land plowed be-
fore seeds are formed Then rye should be sown
which in turn should be turned under in the
spring. lime applied and the seed for the pasture
grasses sown No stable manure should be used
as it may contain seeds not desired but an arti-
fetal fertilizer Astounding in potash may be used
with advantage.
The ground should be well narrowed and rem.
dered fine, and the seed, carefully selected for
varieties, sown thickly and brushed in The
mistake usually made with new pastures is that
of turning stock upon the grass too soon
new pasture should not be used until good
stand of grass has been secured and a sod
formed. And, as the stock carry away the fer
tilizing elements of the soil daily, something
must be applied annually to compensate there
for, or tie grass will sooner or later suecumb to
starvation. Two parts of murate of potash and
one part OF superphosphate 10 an excellent fer
tili2er for grass, and it should be applied early
In the spring. first running the harrow over the
field on thin spots, and re-seeding. 1t Ia the
constant treading down Of the grass that Injuries
it during a dry season. and hence the stock
should be kept out of the field whenever the pas
ture is not abundant