Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-18
PRAIRIE SOILS.
How They Can he Improved by the Gull
tivation Of Grasses and Clovers.

The native grass that covers the prai-
rieS in these portions of the West where
there is considerable rainfall affords
excellent TODD for stock during several
months of the year. 1t does not, how
ever, spring up sufficiently early in the
season to afford good feed when ami
mails are first turned out to Craze. 1t
is also likely to become thin after it has
been eaten of close for several years.
Many farmers who desire better pastur.
age than that afforded by native prairie
grass break the sod, and after raising
flax, corn and small grain on the land
q few years, seed it down to mixed
grasses and clover These are cut and
cured for hay till most OF the clover
and timothy disappear, when :he land
is devoted to grazing purposes. 1t
takes several years to obtain good pa t.
ure in this way and calls for large
expenditure of time and money. If the
land is nearly level and the soil of the
same.quality, an excellent pasture may
DO obtained by subduing the native sod
and introducing mixture of improved
grasses and clovers. and by giving it
an occasional top-dressing it may be
kept productive for many years.
A more economical method OF obtain
ing good pasture, however, is to in
troduce the improved grasses and
clovers on the native sod. The labor
required to effect this change is small
and the outlay OF money is confined 10
the amount required to obtain seed.
The ground continues to produce food
for stock till the new fodder plants have
obtained start 1t can bo prepared
for the seed by burning it over during
tho latter part of 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 piece in
which the seed can germinate. A scar
ifier or harrow can be employed to good
advantage to break the sod sutiic emily
to afford the seed to rest on mellow
soil. But small amount of earth is
necessary to cover the seed, and 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 secure
termination. A very loose soil is un-
favorable to the termination of small
seeds.
The grasses and clovers to be intro.
duced on native prairie sod should be
selected with reference to the character
of the soil and the elevation of the sur
face. If the soil is of nearly uniform
quality and the surface nearly flat, a
mixture OF timothy, red-top, orchard
and blue grass, with common red and
Alsike clover, will insure a most elegant
assortment of forage plants. If there
is variety of soils, however, and parI
of the land is much higher and driel
than others, it is best to try and intro
duce the kind of grass and clover thai
will succeed best on each kind of land
Rcd-top and meadow grass do exceed
ingly we'll on somewhat moist soils
but they are entirely unsuited to soili
that are high and dry. Red-top viii
grow in dry soils and on elevated posi-
tions, but it will have scanty foliage
while the stalks will be hard and wiry
Alskc or Swedish clover is most suit
able for tolcrably moist land, and it il
a very valuable plant to raise in past
ures. 1t will remain in the soil muci
longer than common red clover anC
will afford better food for stock.
Blue grass has no superior for lane
abounding in lime, and which is mod
erately dry. 1t requires several years
however. for the plants to become OF /
size to occupy the land even whom con
siderable scod is sown. Once intro
duced, however, it will remain in til,
ground for an unlimited time, and vii
afford more food every year, Orcharl
grass is very valuable for Il pasture. |
starts ve.y early in the spring, will
stand constant feeding without injury
will produce more food than any othe
fodder plant that requires no oultiva
ton, and is preferred by all kinds o
stock 1t will flourish in partial shade
but is not adapted to land that is yer
moist or very dry. 1t Is not a goo
grass to introduce on land that Is likel
to be required for cultivation, as it
nature is to form hassocks and to max
an uneven sod that is very hard t
break. When inverted by the plow
does not decompose like the sod forme,
by the roots of most grasses. Timothy
especially when mixed with othe
grasses, makes an excellent fodde
plant, which springs up early in tn
season. AS the seed is much cheape
than that of orchard or blue grass,
can be introduced at comparativel
small expense.
White clover Is very valuable plan
for pasture, especially one in whic
sheep are kept. As the seed is exper
sive, few farmers can afford to so'
much of 1t. 1t is desirable to make
little go long way. 1t is a good pla
to sow a small amount of seed in fe'
suitable places and to allow the plant
raised to spread over the adjacel
ground, as they will by means of the
creeping branches. If the sdroppinG
ofcattle be broken up early in the sprin
andbe scattered about, apinch of whit
} clover seed can be planted on til
ground that was covered by them an
good stand be obtained. The gra'
roots that were covered by the dun
will be likely to be killed, while Il
soil will be very rich. The plants pr.
J duced on piece of land foot in d
ameter will in few years extend ov'
large space. In introducing grass
and clovers into the native sod 1t is be
to commence on the side from whiC
the prevailing wind comes, as it wi
aid in scattering seeds, when the plan
are old enought to produce them, oy'
the rest of the pasture land. Red-tc
and blue grass furnish, if they are NJ
moved, a large amount Of seed ..whit
is scattered by the wind over land
the vicinity, = Chicago Times.
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