The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-03-14
FORAGE CROPS FOR
WESTERN FARMERS
Director Extension Div SIGN Utah AZ
ricultural College.
NV L. A. MERRlLL,)


In discussing the subject OF forage
or cps, I propose doing it in the widest
sense. including any food suitable for
horses. cattle, sheep or swine. The
subject will include particularly pas
ture grasses, soiling and fodder crops,
and It is my purpose to particularly
emphasize the importance OF the crops
with which our Western farmers are
not familiar. We shall necessarily
have to limit ourselves to discussion
Of those crops that have been tested
at our Experiment Stations and by SUI
cessful farmers and found to be of prac
tical value, since in the grass family |
alone there are more than $500 species
AS read the history Of agriculture
of this and other nations. am impress
sed with the fact that the permanent
of any country Is depend
ent very largerly upon the emphasis
placed upon pastures and hay crops
Pastures feed mankind; they are the
bedrock Of civilization. There is al
ways something alluring in an agricul-
ture based specially on permanent
things like meadow and pastures. that
d. not let fields wash and erode; and
maintain and build fertility; that make
possible the higher types of agriculture
based on keeping animals, or making
milk for babes, wool for soft garments
or horses for the use of man.
Although we live in comparatively
new section of country our agriculture
in these mountaim valleys is already
advanced far enough to give a number
of examples showing the difference be-
tween a system Of farming that includ-
es pastures and grasses, and system
that involves the production of sugar
beets. potatoes. grain or fruit crops
only. In growing of these crops we
ere continually taking from the soil
those elements Of fertility that are alb
s3lutely essential for the growth Of
plants, and without which the soil is
worthless, In the growing Of grasses
for pasture or for hay when fed upon
the farm, we return to the soil those
elements Of fertility and the supply is
at least maintained, and by wise sys-
tenn Of husbandry, even increased yer
by year.
In this Western country where our
farmers have turned their attention to
the production of grasses and forage
crops. they have been scarcely able to
place limit on the number of live
stock they are able to maintain, and
amount of live stock products they
are able to produce.
Our irrigated lands are particularly
adapted to grass or forage crop produc
ton, because of the abundance of those
plant foods necessary for their growth
particularly lime, potash and phosphat,
and because Of the assurance of sup
plying moisture Just at the time need
cd. 1t is encouraging to the Western
farmer to realize that with the adop
ton of a proper system of cropping
one acre here can be made to do the
work Of three or four acres in the mid
de West, or even fifteen or twenty &C
res in the Southwest. I have seer
three cows pasture on a single acr,
CT upland pasture In Utah from MAJ
until November and in the East hav.
observed that It is necessary to have
from three to four acres to pasture en-
COW for the same length of time. Oul
pastures need never become dry OF
parched. but under a proper system
can be kept constantly green and sue
culcnt.
Land for The Pasture.
IL is mistaken notion to suppose
that the poorest part of the farm
should be given over to pastures. Otter
times the rocky hill side is used TO,
this purpose. and we too freuuentl,
fail to take into account the fact thai
the pasture can be made the NEST i'm
portant part Of the farm. For this
reason the best and most convenient
k'N~AS VI SAAS Ad1 La VIII Ill a ROC0 farm
practice, be selected for this purpose
The land should be we'll drained. L
not. we must see that it is tiled, O,
open bitches provided so that stagn
ant water may be drawn away. w,
should appreciate the fact that in pre-
pairing the land for the pasture gras
ses we are preparing it for a numbe
OF years. 1t is important, therefore
that considerable attention be paid t
proper leveling so that there may b.
no difficulties in the way Of irrigation
Then. too. the land should be prepare
sometime before we expect to do tn
seeding. The soil must settle togett
er SO that the proper functions of tn
soil can be carried on. The seed be
must be extremely fine. When one e,
amines the seed Of any of our grasse
oVnvov-u y,,r,ot ho roo d;Ixx ,,r11