The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-02-18
Hay and Pasture Grass.

and In the spring, much depending up
on circumstances. Hay is perhaps the
most important article Of food for live
stock on the farm, and grass Is said
to be tho foundation of farming" The
grass crop may not be as valuable as
corn, but 1t Is an article of food for
which no substitute can be found. as It
gives bulk and quality to the rations.
both In the green condition and when
cured as hay. There are many excel
lent and nutritious grasses known, and
which can be used by the farmer, but
he confines himself to but two or
three. Glover and timothy are the
grasses mostly used for hay (clover
not really belonging to the grass fam
ily), and with all that may be said in
its favor there are many grasses supe-
rior to timothy. Custom, however, has
given timothy q prominent place on
the farm, and which It will hold for
long time. But, although timothy
and clover are grown on the same
land. as mixed crop, yet they do not
ripen together, and are consequently
not suitable for each other and for
producing mixed hay OF the highest
quality, for IL the clover becomes toJ
ripe 1t will contain large proportion
Of woody fibre, while II the clover 10
cut before the timothy Is ripe the lat
ter will not be as nutritious as when
fully matured. Orchard grass, which
Is disliked by many because It
Stools" comes into blossom the same
time as clover, and will grow on light
or heavy soil. II will also stand
drought better than timothy, and will
give successive cuttings. Timothy is
also low in nutritious matter compared
with some grasses. and its place can
be filled by some kinds without risk of
LOSS.
Pasture grass should be used for
pasture only, and not for moving for
hay. II pasture can supply the stock
In summer 1t should not be required
to do more. Another reason why the
hay crop should be separate from the
pasture product Is that the pasture
should contain as many varieties of
grass as possible, some of the best
kinds being profitable IL grazed, as
they do not grow to sufficient length
for being cured as hay. Pasture grass
should be short, because the animals
will prefer 1t so, as they can then bet
ter select the kinds prepared. The
young and tender grass, only q few
inches high, Is always more highly rel.
ished than any other, and II a pasture
is to be occupied by the stock they
will keep the grass down. No farmer.
therefore, should expect a crop Of hay
from his pasture ground. The meadow
is depended upon for producing the
hay crop, but the meadow Is also CIV
en- up to the animals at times. The
point Is not to take advantage Of the
meadow, but to make 1t better, by In.
creasing the variety Of grasses. A va.
riety having some fault should not be
condemned II 1t also has merit. Or
chard grass comes early in spring, It
will remain for several years. and II
thrives where some grasses could not
exist. Herds grass Is excellent on
meadow land that Is somewhat moist.
Its running roots soon form thict
and permanent sod. Blue grass can b
made to thrive on many soils, prefer.
ring limestone land, and It is q grass
that gives the best late pasturage, but
1t should not be grazed too closely
early in the season. Adapt the grasses
to the soil II possible.
There are great many kinds OF
hay crops that need not be grown to-
gether In the fields, as they can be
mixed In the feed box when cutting
the feed for stock in winter. Glover Is
the main hay crop, but such crop as
summer, and in a short time, will add
largely to the supply Of hay. and ex-
peirments made show that COW peas
and oats. cut when not too ripe, will
give good yields Of hay that may per-
haps he better than clover in some re-
spects. One of the most valuable
crops, in proportion to cost. is COW
peas and corn. Plant the corn in rows
and plant the COW peas In the same
row, but between the corn hills, the
corn being one foo apart in the rows.
Cultivate one way and allow the pea
vines to grow upon the corn. It may
be mentioned that such a mixup crop
may be harvested at any time. It adds
variety to ensilage and the ensinlage
will be more nutritious and also more
highly relished by stock In winter than
If tho ensilage is made exclusively Of
corn. But the farmer should study
grasses and hay crops. for there are
kinds that thrive on rich soils only,
while others will grow on sandy soils.
damp soils, medium soils. etc.. and II
they cannot be grown together they
may be grown on different fields. The
greater tho variety the less the liabil-
ity of loss during the dry season. as
some hay crops will give good results
while others fail under the same con.
Observation-Disclosures Record.