The Little River news., 1916-06-10
FORAGE CROPS FORARKANSkS
No. 4. Grasses For Pasture and Hay.
By Earl Fitzpatrick, Extension Agrono-
 my University of Arkansas.

Grasses are vital factor In sue cessful and permanent agriculture. The washing and teaching, which is impoverishing the soils of thousands of farms would be largely stopped if the cotton, corn, and other clean cul- tivated crops were exchanged for grasses. The roots of this class of plants hold the soil, tlll it up with nu mus and have renovating effect upon It in general. The perennial pas lures and meadows furnish source of cheap feed because breaking and seeding is not done every year. Land that cannot be cultivated economical " because of the rocks, stumps and rough nature, will usually pay hand some profit if put into pasture.
 Grasses may be divided into two classes, perennial or those which live for three or more years such as Der muda, orchard grass, red top, and Kentucky blue grass; and annuals or those which live for only one year as Sudan grass Bermuda grows only during the warm season, while or chard grass, Kentucky blue grass and some others stay green a large portion of the winter. Red top is especially adapted to wet soils, while Bermuda grows on drier soil. so that one can select suitable grasses for almost every soil and condition.
 In making pasture and meadow rec 1ofi hpI- hn H vided into at least three different sec Mons, according to soils and climate as follows: First North and North east Arkansas; second bottom soils of East and South Arkansas; third, up land and sandy soils of East and South Arkansas. In the north and northwest section orchard grass is ,he surest grass and should generally be the basis of a permanent pasture or meadow Orchard grass Is superior to timothy because it is adapted to a larger variety of soils, is not so hard on soil, furnishes superior pasture and more nutritious hay, and rip. ems at the same time as red clover. For pasture, along with the orchard grass, Kentucky blue grass should be seeded on soils that are rich n lime, and red top on soils that ara short in lime. Red and white clover should also be put into the mixture. For a meadow orchard grass and red clover make a good mixture. On the bottom soils of the south and south east portions of the state, Bermuda should usually be made the basis of a permanent pasture or meadow. The disadvantage of Bermuda not being green for pasture during winter can be remedied by putting bur clover On the sod or by having secona pasture.
 The following characteristics and adaptations should be noted n regard to the grasses. Orchard grass and Kentucky grass grow extra we'll in the shade, while Bermuda will be killed out with excessive shade Ken the lime soils in the cooler part of the state; m other sections the ho-. dry weather of summer kills it. Or ,chard grass Is not likely to be sue cessful on a sandy soil. but it Is es- pecially adapted to the clay hills. Some other grass or clover should al ways be sown with orchard grass be- csase of it's habit of growing in dense clupaps instead of making a sod, es- pecially if thin stand is secured. Tall meadow oat. fescue, English blue. and other grasses have promises of being valuable under certain con ditions. In all sections of the state, an soils that are medium to fertile and that are well drained
 Ii should be accepted as a funda- mental principle that successful agri- culture in Arkansas must be based on The growing or more livestock on every farm and that success with livestock will depend very much on permanent ;. pastures Therefore a great campaign should be undertaken this year for more clovers and \tep thousand farmers who now have 70 permanent pastures should be yedged to start this spring at least
 rec to five acres of permanent pas t,s and to seed clovers and grasses a- every waste spot on the farm. R. f ands and thousands of acres of F. Bes and rough land in northern as co.stern Arkansas should bs oner Ioi sychard grass, Lespedeza, hlsnes. pleuS. yeet clover and blue which said courtA. ana tnoussnas or of Little River lands In seuthsrn scribed by law l,s seeded to Lssoe
 . DermudA