The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-09-03

means least Ia importance, our dairy
products haTe established name for
themselves among the very best on
TINS continent. All ,tf these achieve
ments have been won almost entirely
Z without the aid Of cultivated grains
ana grasses. Our native prairie grasses
nave, In nearly all cases. been the prin-
capal, and in many instances, the only
FOOD OF our stock.
IN some PARTS OF our state the system
which has produced such satisfactory
results insthe past Gamble continued for
considerable time Ito come, with but
slight notifications, while in other por-
lions. particularly in the older and
more thickly settled districts. condi-
lions have 80 changed, and are still
changing. THAT very different system
must eventually be instituted. In these
localities our native grasses. which
nave bean the basis Of nearly all OF
our success in the past, are fast disap-
bearing and being replaced by inferior
introduced grasses and worthless
; weeds. The, causes which have brought
about this undesirable, but inevitable
result are not hard to discover. Over
stocktng and .tramping, which seem al
most unavoidable during some portions
OF the season, II enough stock be kept
to utilize the feed during flush times.
is one OF the most potent. and also the
mast difficult, to avoid. For II only
such an amount Of stock is kept during
flush feed as can subsist upon the pas
ture, without. oyerstocking during the
dry parts of-the season, the grass will
nske such rank growth during the
spring and carly summer that stock
will not eat II during the dry periods.
Another, OILY slightly less potent, but
more universal factor, and one still less
amealable to any known methods Of
pravention, sis the gradual migration Of
hardy, worthless. weedy grasses and
plauts from tie older to the newer set
tea portionc Of the country. 1t is true
that some OF our farmers claim that
oar native grasses are so much sup a-
rior to the cultivated grasses Of the
east that we can successfully compete
with eastern dairymen without the aid
Df forage. roots or silage. And these
He
b a we'll known fact that our native
grasses cure upon the ground as soon
as the dry weather Of August and Sep.
tember sets in, and before they have
been injured by frosts; and that fine
quality of well cured hay, superior to
the average meadow hay of eastern
states, can be cut upon our prairies
1t any time after August before the
ground Is covered with snow. As it
frequently happens that we do not
have enough snow at any one time
during the winter to prevent stock
from grazing, it ought not to be diff
cult to understand why we can truth
fully say that "our stock can range the
year round and we can cut hay upon
our prairies from August until March,"
There are, however. some years, anil
especially this year, when this state.
ment cannot be substantiated. While
It ts unquestionably true that we have
the advantage of our eastern competi
tors in the quality Of our native grasse,
It Is also true that they have the ad
vantage of us in the length Of tim
turing which stock can obtain succu
lent food. Such being the, case, 1t seems
that It IL even more important that
We should supply forage, roots and 81
iage Tor the late summer, tall and win.
ter feeding. than 1t is for the eastern
dairyman or at0ckman to make sim
liar provisi0n.-E. G. ,Chilcott,