Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-10-29
IMPORTANCE OF PASTURAGE.
Toe Little Attention Paid to the Pro-
euetion Of Hsy--Pssturss Are
Cheapest Means Of FEEDING.

The need OF pasture lands capabIe
OF sustaining large herds OF cows r.
one or the pressing issues for ngricul-
rurists throughout the eastern stntes
Il r. declared that there f. no more
important subject from the standpoint
OF number OF farmers than the pro-
oucing OF dairy products. and men Of
brains who have made study OF the
subject have demonstrated that there
Is proht 10 he made I'm the business
today as well a. az any other time IN
the history OF the country
SO important * the general subject
or postUragc considered by thinking
men that Cornell University College
or Agriculture has issued valuable
bulletin on the subject. This Is sum-
married. as follows:
The greatest agricultural resource
OF New York Is its exceptional adaptn-
ton FOR the growth OF grass. Yet the
hay crop has received little attention.
and pastures have rarely received any
care. Land Is seldom seeded with the
right kinds or grass for the production
or a permanent pasture Usually the
same seeding Is used for hay aud pas
ture-that is. timothy md clover. But
these are short lived plants and VIII
soon be replaced by weeds unless the
long lived pasture plants are seeded
with them.
Pastures furnish our cheapest feed.
The pasture for one cow one day costs
30 cents; hay or hay and silage costs
12-l5 cents; grain. 12-15 cents 4 good
pasture will replace all the hay and
much OF the grain. Pasture usually
produces more milk than other feed ar
one nth 10 One-tenth OF the cost.
Evidently the most profitable way
GO keep stock IL TO have an abundance
OF good pasture all summer. Too fire.
quentiy the pasture has 10 be supple
nented by summer feeding. Only on
the high priced lands near large cities
anc on sandy soils that do not hold
grass can summer feeding compare
favCrably with pasture.
1T would certainly seem good policy
20 consider means OF increasing the
efficiency Of our pastures. They are
one Of our most profitable farm crops
and give large returns for any care
that they receive. The increasing cost
OF feed makes this care important"
The bulletin gives detailed Inf0rma-
ton concerning the growth and habits
OF various kinds OF grasses and clio
vers suitable for pasturage and adds:
1t viii be seen that the most expen-
sive pasture land in the United States
is in the middle west This Is the
land that was most largely responsible
for the decline Ia animal production In
the east. Even the arid land is no
longer cheap pasture. The rich lands
OF the middle west are SO valuable for
the production OF corn and wheat that
they are not likely 10 be extensively
used for grazing. Their use for this
purpose was matter that could last
only while population was scarce. On
the other Land, the great natural crops
OF New York are trees and grass. One
third OF our improved farm land is In
hay and one-third In pasture. These
natural crops. together with our large
city population. will in the long run
determine our agricultural products.
We viii ultimately sell large quantities
OF hay, milk. potatoes. apples. butter.
wool, meat, lumber and horses.
The first demand is. OF course for
milk and hay for our cities. since these
products cannot be shipped long dis
tances, but these demands require only
"A part OF the area OF the states men
TONED. The trouble during the past
generation has been that land that
should have been producing sheep.
horses and lumber was driven out OF
these industries by competition with
free land. and II also was used for
producing hay and milk. with the sub
1eguent 0rerproduction and low prof