Milford chronicle., 1910-09-30

- iced. Pans should be mad'
to have a plentiful supply oI
hand at all times. There will be tn,
clover meadows. Of course, which viii
be used principally for hay. Occasion
ally there viii be a luxuriant growth
Of fall feed on them which can be
used for pasture to advantage. This
second growth clover is especially val
uab!e for milk cows. calves and hogs.
Permanent Pastures
Pastures should be rotated where
possible. Where a four year rotation
is practiced one-fourth Of the cultivat-
ed land will be in grass each year.
This will generally be more t.an is
needed for hay. in which case H4rt Of
it can be used for pasture. In addi-
ton to this. there is usually some land
on every farm that is too wet or too
rough to be used for anything but per-
manent pasture. In too many cases
these permanent pastures are weedy
and unproductive. tioc6 Of sheep or
goats will do much to get rid Of the
weeds. If there are any thistles they
should be cut while in bloom and
handful of salt put on the roots.
Where an area Of land has been very
severely Overgrazed in the past it viii
be absolutely necessary that it be very
carefully pastured for the first two or
three years The native grasses and
forage plants must have a chance to
regain theiI former vigor and to go to !
seed. A very large number of stock |
men advocate resting the land-that is.
keeping all stock OF for a period Of |
three or four years That this remedy |
will bring about the desired results
has been definitely proved in numer
Gus instances.
To increase the productivity it will
be necessary to thicken the stand and
loosen the soil The yield of pastures
can often be doubled by running a
disk over them in the spring. This is
true if a few pounds Of
grass seed to the acre are used at the
same time There is nothing better
than alsike clover for the wet spots
Redtop is also good in such places, al
hough it is not liked well enough by
he stock 10 warrant its use where
better grasses will grow
Alsike clover (Trifoiium hybriduml
$ a perennial clover whose appearance
suggests hybrid between red and
white clovers, but it is not a hybrid
{ will thrive on soil too wet for red
lover, but on ordinary soil is prOba-
'ly not TO be SO highly recommended
[ should be sown with grasses to give
he best results.
The standard pasture grass through
ut the corn belt is blue grass. For
arly spring and late fall pasturage $
othing can equal it, II is nutritious
be stock like it well, it is not easily
ljured by tramping. and it is a good
ielder. The chief objection to it is
hat it practically ceases growth dur
lg the hot, dry days Of midsummer
t this time it is necessary to supple
tent the blue grass pasture with some >
lrage crop or have a fresh pasture
} turn the stock into. Many stock :,
len have several different pastures u
hey stock one heavily, so that it will =
e eaten down close in three or four T.
eeks, then change the animals to a !,
eSh one while the grass in the first u
,ts another start. In this way great "
value can be got out Of a certain u
mount of pasture land. 1t is a good !,
an TO allow part of the blue grass VI
nd to make a growth of six or eight
ches before winter. This makes ex- y
llent winter pasture for both cattle al
Id horses. and they will thrive and p
tten on it. Horses will paw through -
veral inches of snow to get to it, ''
Though blue grass will thrive fairly "
ell in dry and unsheltered locations -"
will do better where shaded mod III
ately. Pasture land partly covered -
th brush and short timber is a IA -
rite place to secure a good stand. -
Orchard grass is next to blue grass l'
importance as a pasture crop. 1t is w
rdly as nutritious nor is it liked as ~
III by stock, but It makes a more D'
pid growth and continues to grow u
rOugbOut the summer months When u.
wn in a mixture Of other grasses. u
it usually is. the stock are liable to Oe
the more palatable grasses first.
wing the orchard grass to grow up so
! become hard and woody. Where Oe
plan Of changing pastures is prac. S
ID there is little trouble from this ~, III,
rce, as all the grass is eaten down WI
ckly.
good mixture to SOW on old pas Y
e before disking is eight pounds Of ere
e grass. two pounds of orchard the
IS and two or three pounds of som, gel
4 Of clover. Red clover is good. bu' gu
S not last long. In most regions the
ere blue grass fiourishes white clio pei
will work without seeding in vie
years. A mixture OF alsike and the
Top scattered around the wet spots fee
complete the renovation Of the Pu
-ure. From this time on good It'll
ling every spring will keep the pas. ira