The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-13
FARM, FIELD, GARDEN.
Importance Of Early Pastures
How to Make Them.
DAT CROP ALWAYS PROFITABLE.


the whole year is between hay and grass,
when they are kept on dry meal during
the greater part of April The opening
weather of spring. and the sight Of the
green grass in the fields, make them rest
less and eager TO enter the fields, but
prudence forces the owner TO withstrain
them. On clover or timothy pasture it
is not wise to turn the animals loose much
before the middle Of May, unless the
spring is very early and the grass has OBJ
tanned q splendid start. Frequently after
a severe winter many of the roots Of the
clover and timothy have been injured by
the cold, and to stock the pastures early
would inevitably result IN the entire de-
struction of the grass. II is during this
interval period, between hay and grass,
that the stock pass through the most criti-
cal time of the whole year. Frequently
they lose flesh rapidly and become poor
and weak before they can refresh them
selves with the new grass.
While this applies to timothy and clover,
it does not as literally hold true Of blue
grass A pasture of blue grass is ready
for the stock at least month earlier than
either timothy clover. or and If pastured
properly no harm will result. / have
early as the I'd of April, and this season
win turn them on shortly before the mid
die of the month. Even on blue grass
pastures. however, it is not wise to turn
the stock on in quantities. blu: one animal
TO the acre viii do no harm If turned on by
the LIST of April. The strong, vigorous
stock of blue grass viii soon gain on them
and show no apparent injury from early
grazing. A blue grass pasture is asplendid
addition to the clover and timothy, for
while the latter two may make splendid
summer pastures. the former win I'LL in
the long intervals between the time for
hay and fresh grass. The permanency of
the blue grass is also something to be re-
membered in its favor. During as1ozen or
more of seasons of severe weather have
been forced back upon my blue grass pas
ture, which, during heavy summer
droughts, had green velvety appearance
when the clover and timothy looked dead
or witty. There seems to be no limit to
the age of blue grass, for in this vicinity
there are pastures of it which are as old as
some of the farmers, and they are still
strong and flourishing.
Another commendabls property of blue
grass is that it can be grown well on wood
lands, which prevent the sun from reach
ing it thoroughly. Shade seems to be no
objection to the growth Of the grass, and
profitable crops may be grown on shady
land. The work Of establishing q pasture
of blue grass Is not near 50 difficult as that
of clover. and vet taking all in all it prob
ably pays as well as clover. The returns
for the first two or three years may not be
fiourishes Is considered it tells . different
story. The way to start good growth is
to SOW bushel of seed TO the acre along
with other grasses. and for two years the
blue grass will make but little show. After
that period, however, the plants viii begin
to assert their strength and gradually
crowd out everything else, and form q COM
enough permanent blue grass pastures IN
the country, and farmers make . great
mistake in not having at least one such
pasture on their farm to fall back on, If for
no other reason, in cases of an emergency.
s. w. CHANBERs, Ohio.
AMERICAN OATS.
The English farmer places more faith in
his oat crops than do Americans, but this
is probably partly due to the fact that eli.
mate, soil and other conditions are better
there than in this country for raising a
good crop. The average English farmer
makes oats supply the lack of many other
grains, which we grow in abundance here,
and as every part of the grain ana stalks
are utilized the crop is always profitable.
The cool and moist climate of England is
especially adapted to oats. and much of
the soil has the very elements in it so es-
sential TO the growth of this grain.
With the proper soil and climate, how
ever; no American farmer need complain
OF the oat crop, for certainly, whether or
not We place as much importance TO it as
the English, it is profitable crop to culti-
waite. The market price may not be lust as
we would like TO have il, but stock are
always ready to pay good interest on ali of
the oats fed to them. There is no better
muscle and bone-fornling grain than oats,
and for young animals il is much superior
TO corn. But the true worth of the grain
is understood when il is used as feed in q
well-balanced ration. The straw itself is
only about one-third less nutritious than
hay. and this is a considerable item in the
long run.
The crop is not appreciated at its full
value here for several reasons. First. the
straw is not garnered and kept properly
for feeding purposes. 1t is not cut as .
rule until II has passed that period when
it enjoys the highest feeding value. and
then II Is only poorly and unSystematically
kept and fed. Not attaching much i'm
portance to it. farmers are apt TO neglect
II, and the highest advantage is not OBJ
tanned from its use Corn or wheat ham
died in the same way would also soon fall
into discred.t. The crop must be out be-
fore the stalks get old, sere and yellow.
Another thing is that our summer
weather is SO dry and warm that oats do
not succeed as well as in England. but this
evil can be mitigated some by earlier SOW.
ing. The crop viii then attain q good
grow tn before the summer droughts come
on to blight IL The soil should be pre-
pared for it just as soon in the spring as il
Is possible to stir the soil pros.ably. This
means that the pillow should be put into
the ground for oats just as soon as the
water IS sufficiently out of il 10 permit the
pillow to work smoothly. Early sowing,
however should not cause poor and hasfy
preparation of the soil. Thorough pulyer.
izing and mixing of the soil for this crop
pays, and should not be neglected any
more than for the potato and corn crop.
The harrow should also be brought into
play, and run over the field several times.
The seed should be sown broadcast, and
not drilled IN, as this is an injury rather
than benefit Drilling may be beneficial
10 grains sowed over winter, as the small
ridges thrown up act as a protection, bat
the grains sown IN the spring need no
such protection.
THE EGG MARKET.
The consumption of eggs in this country
is becoming SO enormous thar In the large
cities commission men are making q
specially of dealing with these products
alone. As result of these thousands of
barrels of eggs being shipped to market,
the prices fuctnate so that within one dav
the prices may rise or fall cents on the
dozen Just before Faster the prsnas ~.r>