The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-14
TO IMPROVE PASTURES.
Government Treatise on
Growth of Forage Crops.

Thomas A. Williams. Assistant Chief of
the Division Of Agroz,ology OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture, in an article on
crops says:
1t is a difficult matter to bring the
permanent meadows and pastures to such
a stage Of perfection that they will afford
suiiicient supply of fresh feed through
out the entire seaccn. Usually there are
one or more periods curing the year when
| the supply is limited. and during which
| the permanent grass lands nav b. mueh
! injured by continuous use. These periods
! GeLsI5lly occur in the early spring. mid
sumner. and late autumn. Asain the pri-
mary crops, either OF grass or grain. may
I be injured severely. or destroyed entirely,
I by nnfayorabie climatic conditions or by
! insect or fungus pests. Unde. such cir
eumstances serious fnaIcial 10 . may be
avoided by growing supplementary or Sec
/ onaary forage crops. II the crop is de-
sired for use the same season. quick
growing annuals should be sown; If for
| winter and early spring bienlials or the
! so-called winter anruals'
There are few large farms in any section
of the country devoted to mixed farming
! and stoekraising, upon which land ecu.d
not be advantageousiy sown-to such sup
| Elementary crops. uusrally the land can
be used a portion =. the season for prodle-
ing come primary ere p, in which ease the
/ supplementary crop Is clear gain. 03ten
( ms -ad Of allowing the land TO ii. IA los
for the entire season. as is the pract' = in
/ some sections. 1t can be utilized to gov
I these forage crops and also be brought nto
| good condition for the grain or othsr pri-
mary crop
I'm addition to the forage ob;an ned from
these supplementary crops, they may be
i made to take an important part in the
maintenance of the fertility of the soil and
in the reclaiming OF WORKOUT fields.
| Many OF the best crops for forage are legu-
minous plants which improve the ssii bo b
physically and chemically, through tie me-
chanieal effect OF the growing roots and the
/ nitrogen which they add to it, besides BE- ns
valuable for blowing undsr TO inc ease the
] humus or vegetable mold. They are a o
| adapted to use as cover crops In orchards
and en- lanes liable to wash when expostd
to the storm waters of the fall, winter. md
\ early spring.
THE varieties to be selected and tine
methods to be employed will depend upon
the locality. the manner in which the crop
is to be utilized. and the place ii occupies
in the farm rotation. The seed may be
sown broadcast or in drills, according to
which method gives the best results under
the soil and climatic conditions prevailing
I In given locality; it may be sown at the
last cultivation CT a hoed crop like corn or
! cotton: or. possibly still other methods
can be employed TO better advantage. The
; time of planting may be from early spring
/ 20 early or even late autumn, according 10
I the particular season at which the crop Is
/ to be used or harvested; spring seeding af-
/ fordirg forage for summer and early au.
F, tumn use, and later seeding for later au-
! tumn, winter. and spring If the crop is 10
/ be fed in the green state. The surplus
crop OF any season can be preserved by
curing or ensiling. OF course IL is only il
the South. where the weather is mild. thar
green pasturage can be had during the
winter
There are a large number CT annual
and biennial crops adapted TO use as sup
Elementary forage. For spring seeding the
ANIMALS are perhaps most often used, al
though some biennials are also valuable,
particularly for late summer ana au-
tumn feed. The various varieties OF fod-
der corn, sorghum tboth saccharine and
non saccharine), field peas, oats. barley,
soy beans, yetehes and rape may be Sue
eessfully grown in the Northern States.
In the South nscstt=5ss=s these same crops,
with the addition of the cowpea, Florida
beggar weed. and velvet bean, are avail
able. On alkali soils the Australian salt
bush can often be grown to advantage.
These crops will all afford forage that can
be USED during some portion OF the sum-
mer and early autumn for fresh food for
stock. either as pasturage or for soiling.
when it is desired to have forage
throughout the autumn months. many OF
the crops mentioned above can be util-
lied, sowing the seed in late summer or
early autumn. AS a rule, 1t will be best
to use the early or medium early sorts
for this purpose. There are varieties Of
millet, corn, sorghum. and soy beans that
are adapted to use in the different sec
tions of the country. Rape can sometimes
be used for this purpose, and ttare is
large variety direct crops that e well
planted at this season Of the year Of the
grains. barley is better adapted to late
sowing than oats. Rye can be GOWN for
fall pasturage as well as for use during
the winter and spring
'The list of crops suitable for late fail,
winter and spring forage is not SO long.
yet it affords opportunity for the selection
of varieties suited to almost any section of
the country. In the North. winter rye is
perhaps the most valuable crop while win
ter wheat may also be utilized; and rape.
root crops. and hairy ystch furnish excel
lent food for stick until the appearance OF
heavy freezing weather. In the South.
rescue grass. hairy vetch. crimson Glove.
turf or winter oats, rye and Egyptian
clover make a good list from which to Sc
but also for use es cover crops and for in
creasing the fertility Of the land. Bur
clover may also be sown at this season OF
the year for early spring pasturage-
at must be remembered in connection
with the cultivation of these supplement-
airy forage crops, and more especially with
reference to the leguminous varieties. that
even in case il does not become necessary
to use them for forage. they will more
than pay for the trouble and expense in
growing them through their manurial val
lie to the land upon which they are grown.
In other words in addition to insuring an
abundant supply OF forage of the best
quality thus avoiding possible loss through
the checking OF the development of the
animals, or the reduction of yield Of rilk
and butter in the case of dairy sock.
these crops will play an important part
in the maintenance of the fertility Of the
farm"
SHAVED JOHN WILKES BOOTH.