The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-01-26
FOR PERMANENT PASTURES
GOVERNMENT ISSUES AN INTER.
EsTiNe BULLETIN.
Tells Farmers How TO Prepare Per-
manent Pastures in States Of the
Cotton Eeit.

permanent pastures for the cot
ton belt" is the subject discusst +. In
a bulletin just received off the presses
of the United States department Of
agriculture at Washington. The bul.
letin is OF interest in this section be-
cause of the determination OF many
of the farmers hereabouts to raise
more live stock In the future.
The bulletin says:
Introduction.
Permanent pastures are @ necessity
in the cotton states. Even with the
present acreage devoted TO cotton
and other TILED crops, there is plenty
of idle land that if turned into pas
lures would yield good additional
income without increasing the farm
ers labor bills to any apprec.able
extent. In changing from cotton
growing to livestock raising, as many
are now doing. the need OF per1na.
nent pastures becomes Imperative
Lands Suitable for Pastures.
The more fertile the land the bet
ter the pasture; bat for economic
reasons the rough fields and quilted
hillsides should be the first to be used
for grass. The increasing prices of
meats and of farm labor Will often
make the fertile fields more profitable,
in pasture than in titled crops. The
convenience Of water for the stock
should not be overlooked in choosing
a field for pasture.
Preparation OF the Land.
The success OF q permanent pasture
depends primarily on the fertility OF
the land at the start. On good soil
with the proper system OF grazing,
PASTURE will increase in production
for many years. 1t Is a slow process.
however, to build up poor soils by
pastufing, alone. 1t is better to put
tae land in good filth at the start in
order to maintain the stand OF the
more nutritious grasses and cloyers.
II the soil is deficient In orgsnic
matter. some green.Inanure croJ, such
as cowpeas or rye, should be ploaed
under before seeding the. grass Sta.
bic manure would accomplish the
same purpose. but this is not often
available. Experience has shown tha.
phosphorus is the one element tina: is
most likely to be pfofitable in pas
lures; SO. IL commercial fertilizers
are used, those carrying "a high per-
centage Of this element are most
desirable. Acid phosphate and basic
Stag are the most economical aAaa
satisfactory materials TO. use. Z
Kinds Of Grasses for Pastures.
The Southern states are, fortunate
in having number or first-cIass pass
ture plants suitable for their cgntiis
tioDs, With a proper selection OF
these plants It Is possible to have. good
pastures throughout the entire year.
In needing. 1t is best to use a hi:2s
ture Of several grasses and clDyers. |.
as no one kind will meet All r.
quirements, or the many pasture
plants available. the best ones under
general conditions are BERMUDA grass.
lespedesa. bur clover and white cles.
er. Redtor, orchard grass, carpet
sgys.s, grss. 8 issaisar- -ye-sgyrssaA and the;
yetches skcaid be added to this list
for the special conditions rlentf6neaiI /
later. 81
Bermuda Grass. ~ n
Bermuda grass Is iinquestionably
the best, summer pasture grass known
In the south. IL occupies the same
relative position in that section that
bluegrass does In the north. 1t should
be mad the basis for pasture naix-
lures on ell soils except the very light
sands. Bermuda grass does best on
rich loans along creeks. sometimes
growing large eIioug 10 make
tons of hny to the acre. The yield
is not SO high on upiahds. but It is
sufiictent TO justify it's use for graz
ing purposes on all the loans and 4
the heavier types OF soils. it Is; per-
nanent in its existence ON fertile
soils, eIdnres long SIeriods oil