The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-05-14

bTdSS ana nay are crops that ue-
pend largely upon an abundance of
moisture TO give the largest yields, and
the object of every farmer is to get his
grass crop as far ahead as possible
before the dry weather of summer sets
in. Sometimes a single shower, at a
time when the ground is dry. is worth
more than prolonged period of rain
early In the season. Sod land is al
ways ready to make growth as soon as
the warmth of spring begins. but
when new pastures or grass crops
ere seeded down early in the spring
the future progress of the crop will
depend largely upon the manner in
which the land was prepared and the
amount Of plant food supplied. There
is no substitute for grass in the sum
mer season, as Il provides bulky ami
succulent food before other crops are
ready. largely adding to the production
Of milk, butter and meat. and is har-
vested by the animals themselves
while on the pasture, thus saving con.
siderable labor in feeding, as well as
providing a variety of foods that can
not be secured in any other manner.
The grass grown for hay should he
. separate crop. Glover and timothy
ere the standards for hay. although
they do not ripen together. No hay
erassess should be pastured. as the
feet of the animals do considerable
harm, while the field is never eaten off
evenly. The pasture grasses. intend.
ed for grazing purposes only, should
consist of a. many varieties as pos
sible, while such is not necessary for
the hay crop. A variety of grass that
Is indigenous to the soil of the pas
turo lot may sooner or later crowd
cut all other variety and take posses
sion. but IL such variety is relished
by stock, ana maintains its hold on
the land. it will probably be found bet
ter than any other kind on account of
its hardness and ability to withstand
6roughts.
Whether for hay or pasture. the land
should be deeply plowed and well
narrowed. so as to have the soil in
the finest possible condition. This is
essential, for the reason that the
young plants will have better facili-
ties for feeding and will rapidly in.
warm days of July and August. The
crease in root growth before the
more early growth the grass can make
the better it will be able to endure
dry spell. If manure is used it
should be thoroughly decomposel. In
order that all seeds of weeds may be
destroyed, ms 1t is difficult to get at
weeds growing on grass plot. The
safer method is to apply fertilizers.
Wood ashes arc excellent, but mix
ture of 100 pounds of nitrate of soda,
1875 pounds sulphate of potash, and so
rounds nitrate of soda, per acre, IL
the land is in moderate condition, will
give the grass an early start and en-
able it to become well established be-
fore meeting with lack of moisture.
The main point in the growing of
grass crop is to get an even and uni
form stand at the beginning, for any
gain at the start will be of advantage
at later periods of growth.
While mixed grsses should be pre-
ferred on pasture field, 1t is better
to grow hay crops singly-unmixed-
the mixing of the foods to be done at
the barn when feeding the animals,
after harvesting the grass crops. 1t is
better for the farmer not to depend
upon a single kind of hay crop, as
prolonged drought may destroy it. In
stead of growing clover and timothy
only, there should be fields of COW
peas, Hungarian grass, and fodder
corn, which can, il necessary, be seed
ed late and moved at any stage of
growth, according to circumstances.
Pasture lands may include rye as
late fall ana early spring supply, but
grown separately from the grasses,
while crimson clover is also another
late and early crop that may be made
10 fill up gap, being also an excellent
green manurial crop.
An old sod that has furnished crop
for several years need not be plowej
under, because of beginning to fall.
It may only need liberal application
of fertilizer to become useful again,
but II the best varieties of grasses
have disappeared, and some undesir-
able kind provides the green food of
the pasture, it should be plowed TN
Ger and cultivated in corn, so as to
give the land thorough working,
though the best time to do SO is in the
fall. using lime on the sod and plowing
in manner so as to bury all the sod,
In order to prevent it from growing
the following spring. The cause of
failure of pastures is largely due to
close grazing and trampllng by the
animals hence II should be the rule
to have change of pastures, in order
10 prevent cropping the grass too close