The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-09-11
CRv M. COVERDELL)

Through that thief of time, pro-
crastination, carelessness, and a zeal
I to keep every hoof of live stock pos
sible-ninety-nin out of every one
hundred farmers overstock their pas
ture lands, and by the time the most
trying portion of the season comes
on. their stock are without sufficient
pasturage to keep them in even fair
shape, and while the detrimental eff
feet of such management is most no
ticeable on dairy cows, 1t is prac-
tically the same with all other stock
since it stunts them in their growth
by depriving them of proper n1urisb-
ment for a most important part of
the season.
Another very discouraging feature
of such a course, is, live stock that
thus have been deprived of ample pas
turage during the summer season,
will be in poor condition to meet the
rigors of winter, for, once they fall
off in flesh at this season, there is not
apt to be any more luxuriant
growth of grass spring up that year,
with the result that the animals not
only are unfit to start through the
winter, but they will consume more
high-priced grain and roughage, and
yet not regain the loss Of flesh sus-
tanned by poor or insufficient pastur-
age at the proper season.
1t Is imperative, then, that the
farmer do one of two things: Dispose
of his live. stock till he. has only what
his pasturage will keep in prime
shape through the entire season with
out taxing it to the limit, or continue
pasture till the latter part of July. To
those who think this too late to SOW
such crops, we would state that we
have sown as late as August 5, and
the crop not only made a good
growth for pasturage, but reached
height that made it most desirable
winter roughage. With proper man.
agement, such as crop might be util-
lied for light grazing early in the
fall: then mown for roughage, but, of
course. one must be governed in each
case by conditions.
One of the most commendable fea-
lures of sowing crops for late sum-
mer and early fall pasturage, is, that
in many cases they can be grown
where some other crop has failed
earlier in the season, or the first
growth has ripened~ and been re-
moved from the field. Where wheat
or any other small grain shows that
it will not make a first-class grain
crop, it should be harvested just as
soon as 'possible-either bound or
mown and stacked for winter rough
age. The field may then be sown any
| of several crops, and will produce an
abundance of excellent grazing in a
very short time. Spots which were
too wet or too dry at regular plant
| ing-time may be utilized to a good
advantage in this manner. One can
Of corn near the pasture-lot, toss 1t
over the fence to the stock, and SOW
some sort of catch-crop on the
ground from which it was taken.
Then, there is sure to be some parts
of such pasturage left in the soil, and
| this will serve as a fertilizer to Off
set the double drain on the land.
! AS to the different sorts of crops
that may be sown for this late pas
| turage, one must be partly governed
| by such agencies as weather condi-
tions, conservative handling Of the
soil. rapidity of the crops growth, etc.
Oats will make a rapid growth and
fine pasturage, but if the lateness of
the season makes it risky to SOW them
on account of early frost falling, they
should not be sown, as frost ruins
them the first time it touches them
to any great extent Millet would
not develop quite as rapidly as oat1,
but it is not so pervious to the dam
aging effect of frost, and for this rea-
son it is liable to prove quite salts
factory in the majority of cases.
Cane and kaffir corn are also excel.
lent for pasturage, but should be
sown or drilled very thick, so that
the plants will grow up in a crowd
ed condition, which causes them to
be small, tender and juicy for pas
turage. Rape will make a quick
growth. and is excellent as pastur-
age, especially for hogs, sheep and
cattle. Wheat or rye will also make
good pasturage, but both are some
what slow of growth in the earlier
stage of their development, which is
apt to throw them too late for this
seasons grazing. The cost of these
seeds is also to be taken into con-
sideration, as they are higher than
most others. However, either of these
plants will form the finest of pastur-
age early next spring. All of these
forage crops will reach a stage OF