Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-02-16
FORAGE CROPS FOR ARKANSAS.
No. 4. Grasses For Pasture and Hay.
By Earl Fitzpatrick, Extension Agrono-
 my, University of Arkansas.

my, University of Arkansas.
 Grasses are a vital factor in sue, cessful and permanent agriculture. The washing and teaching, which is mpOverishing the soils of thousands of farms would be largely stopped if tivated crops were exchanged for grasses. The roots of this class of plants hold the soil, i'll it up with nu- mus and have renovating effect upon 1t 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, ly 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 Ber- 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 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 concentrations Arkansas must be. df- vided into at least three different sec tions, according to soils and climate as follows: First, North and North east Arkansas; second bottom soils of Eest and South Arkansas: third, up- land and sandy soils of East and South Arkansas. In the north and northwest section orchard grass is the the basis of permanent pasture or meadow. Orchard grass is superior to timothy because it is adapted to d larger variety of soils. is not so hard on 'soil,v 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 in lime. and red top on soils that are short in lime. Red and white clover should also be put into the mixture. For 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 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 second pasture.
 The following characteristics and adaptations should be noted m regard to the grasses. Orchard grass and Kentucky grass grow extra well in the shade, while Bermuda will be killed out with excessive shade. Ken lucky blue grass does we'll only on the lime soils in the cooler part of the state; m other sections the hor, dry weather of summer kills it. Or. chard grass is not likely to be suc- cessful on 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- cause of it's habit of growing in dense clumps 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
 on. soils that arc medium to fertile, and that are we'll drained.
 It should be accepted as 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 vey much ,on permanent pastures. Therefore a great campaign should be undertaken this year for more clovers and ten thousand farmers who now have no permanent pastures should be pledged to start this spring at least three to five acnes of permanent pas ture and to seed clovers and grasses on every waste spot on the farm. Thousands and thousands of acres of hillsides and rough land in northern l and western Arkansas should pc lseeded to orchard grass. Lespedeza, white clover, sweet clover and blue grass or Bermuda. and thousands of acres of cutover lands in southern Arkansas should be seeded to Lespo. l desa. bur clover and Bermuda.