The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-06-28
producing haf

and all thriving and producing haf
and forage.
We go on our meadows when the
proper times come, cut the grass,
cure it into hay and haul 1t to the
stack or barns and think no more
about the whole matter until the
next year comes and then we go out
and go through the same motfons
only get a smaller GRO and keep
this up until the Yield is SO small
that we feel it is necessary TO pio"
up the field and reseed it to clover
and timothy again. We doTt go 70
the trouble of top dressing or fertli-
ling the meadow or tile drain TO
preven the water from drowning 1t
out during the wet season, nor do we
plan to leave a stubble to protect
it from the hot summer sun
Another cause Of the ln~ferlorltS OF
our meadow lands is the fact that
they are supporting numberless use
less weeds.
If we could rid our meadows Of
his pest it would add millions OF
dollars to the pockets of our farm
ers. How can it be done: by
thorough tillage? BY the use Of
more grass seed? Most e~mphatcally
No. That would be in direct Oppose
ton to the laws of nature.
We may prepare the SOIL IN the
best possible manne and SOW on
clover and Timothy SO thick That the
grass Will come up as thick as the
hair on a dog and in some places We
will vet find that the young plants
will die out and their places pe iliieo
with noXiOus weeds.
These interSpaces may be filled
ever so often with fresh saed ana
the result will be similar which Is
conclusive evidence that every sol.
has a capacity for supporting q Ger
tain number Of n kind OF plants
and it Will produce TO more than that
number Of that variety no mat
ter how Well it is titled or how many
are terminated on that particular
soil.
When we fill these interspaces be
tween the plants with another specie
Of grass a certain lot of its plants
will grow and h rest Will Ole soon
after they have terminated.
The ones that grow Will not inter
fere with the other varieties and the
yield will be increased.
1t has been found that land will
not produce it's maximum yield OF
grass unless it is occupied by a num-
Der Of kinds of grasses.
Practical experience a shown US
that any soil will be more certain to
Weld larger and better crops Of for
age and hay when 1t is seeded with
mixed grasses than when soWn to
clover and Timothy alone
Our flocks and herds will thrive
better whe fed on mixed grasses
ono matter whether in a green con
dition or cured for hay) than they
will when fed on any one or Two
varieties sowed alone, no matter now
nutritious these grasses may De-
We will find 1t in every "aF
important to balance our forage fa-
tions as it Is the grain rations # We
obtain the best results from a mini
mum amount Of feed.
All animals that depend upon
grass will thrive better when fed on
a mixture for the elements are fur
nished in greater abundance and IN
a manner better adapted to their
needs.
If you have ever noticed a horse
or a COW at liberty you will have
observed the fact that they are con
stantly going from one kind Of grass
to another while they are eating.
Animals will often walk from one
to get a nibble of some variety Of
grass that is different from that in
the other end OF the pasture.
Pastures hat contain the greatest
number Of varieties OF Grass are in
variably the ones hat will support the
nj Ost stock.
1t Is one of the greatest evils of
our system of farming to up a
good pasture for it requires a num-
Der of years to get a good turf es-
tablished.
In selecting grass seed for a per
manent pasture select kinds that will
bloom in succession from early sum-
mer until late in the fall So that
when one kind is not growing there
will be another to occupy the soil
and prevent weeds from growing in
| where the soil is not occupied.
In selecting grasses for the meadow
select varieties that flower about the
! same time so that they may be cured
for hay at one cutting.
Select those that furnish the most
leaves and thus diminish the amount
of woody indi gestible matter in the
hay.
Tt is folly to try to skim off a sec
ond crop from the If the