Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-09-14
RENEWING RANGES.
Fine Results From Disking - Al
formation of Pastures.

formation of Pastures.
In regard to disking as an aid in re-
newng ranges Agrostologist j. G.
Smith reports that as q result Of ex-
periments conducted In Texas it would
appear that land which has been disk
ed is improving at the most rapid rate.
Even at the rate Of 20 cents per acre,
which was paid for the work, this
treatment costs fully two-thirds less
than simply resting the land without
treatment and more than enough
grass can be secured from the disked
land the first year to pay for the cost
of the labor.
Best results have accrued from loos-
ening the surface of the ground in
early spring before the grasses COM
meDce their new growth. 1t stimulates
the roots of such grasses as are al
ready established, causing them to
grow with renewed yigor. At Abilene
at the close of the season (Oct. Is,
1898 it was estimated that the grasses
on land which had been disked in the
early spring had improved at least %
per cent in carrying capacity-that is,
x
the land at the end of the first season
than appeared on adjoining pastures
which We're not treated in any way
Both pastures We're grazed with the
same amount of stock and treated as
far as possible alike. The experiments
here referred to We're commenced in
the spring of 1898.
A great many Of the stockmen who
have reported concerning the state of
their ranges have suggested that the
resting of the land would be the cheap
est and most practicable method of
again bringing it up to it's highest val
| lie. Resting is an excellent treatment
| wherever sufficient grass remains to
| reseed the land. 1t Is, however, not the
| most rapid method, nor can it be con-
sidered the cheapest when one takes
into consideration the fact that the
land to become fully regrassed must be
rested sometimes three or four years
| Complete resting of a pasture is really
more expensive means of improving
the pasturage than many would sup
| pose. The grass on an acre Of land on
a section capable Of carrying 81 head
of stock cattle is worth &C cents per
acre when the cattle are appra Used at
valuation of $50 each. at this rate
the cost of the renewal of the pasture
In the course OF a few years would
amount to very nearly the value Of the
land.
Partial resting, or resting during diff
| ferent seasons Of the year. q system
| yx-h oh, No a o1&
ton Of pastures, secures the same re-
suit at much less expense. Thus
range might be divided up into a num-
Der Of small pastures provided with
water, in each of which the cattle
would be allowed to run for not more
than two or three months at a time
and then be transferred to another. In
this way the succession of grasses
| which normally occurs in nature can
be fostered and improved. Let us sup
pose range Of 100000 acres in extent
divided into ten pastures Of 10000
acres each. At the average carrying
capacity for the state this body of land
will produce forage enough to sustain
10000 stock cattle throughout the
year. These divided up into their
various classes-beef steers, 2-year-
olds and yearlings, COWS and calves
could be held three months in one pas
ture and then transferred to another
which had been kept free from stock
during that length Of time.
a rest Of two or three months during
the growing season in early spring
would enable the early grasses to ripen
and shed their seeds, thus perpetual
ing the early species After the seed
had fallen the cattle could be turned
on the grass for two or three months
and again transferred to fresh pas
ture. In the same way autumn and
winter pastures can be secured Sew
eral stockmen who have employed this
method on large scale for a number
Of years say their ranges are continu-
ally improving.
How to Drag Stone with Chain.
A correspondent sends the Ohio
Farmer sketch showing how he
drags stone with a chain: Draw the