The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-09-24
In the Blue Grass Regions, Says
Expert of the Department
of Agriculture.

one OF tne greatest sources OF loss OF
fertility from pasture soils in the blue
grass region results from the poor To-
cation of shade trees and brush ac-
cOrding to the author OF THE Grazing
Industry Of the Bluegrass Region" a
bulletin recently published by the
/ United States department Of agricul-
ture. Trees and brush, he states,
/ should always be set on the higher
portions OF the field, and not along
the banks OF running streams, as so
often is the case With good grass,
the animals do not Craze more than
oQe-third OF the time; the rest Of the
time Is spent lying down or standing
in the shade fighting flies. Hence,
much Of the manure that Is made does
not get back directly on the land that
produced the grass. II the manure
produced while the animals are not
grazing Is deposited on the tops Of
the hills, It's beneficial effects on the
grass may be noted for several rods
down the hlllsides. 1t is easy TO be-
lleve that II one-half to two-thirds
OF the manure Is lost from pasture
fields and none is added. the crops
must gradually deteriorate.
No System.
Where animals are kept continually
agriculture, the writer finds. that main
tains the fertility OF the soil better
than grazing. Where beef cattle or
sheep are grazed, all OF the resulting
manure is left on the pastures, and the
land is further enriched If the animals
are given additional feed during the
winter. This is usually not the case
on dairy firms, where the cattle spend
much of the time in yards or stables.
This return OF the manure directly to
the soil is particularly important in
the grazing regions where the profits
are not sufficiently large TO justify the
liberal use of commercial fertilizers on
pasture land. The effect OF manure
on bluegrass is shown by the fact that
feeding hay or corn fodder on the poor
est spots OF pasture is a very effec-
tive means OF improving the stand of
grass. At the same time the increas-
ing use Of silage and, in some parts,
dry feeding methods during the win
ter, may make it necessary for the
grazer to take special measures for
maintaining his pasture.
Getting a Sod.
While the ordinary practice is to
clear additions to the pasture fields
and allow the bluegrass to come in
itself this is slow process. Where
the land Is level enough to pillow and
prepare a seed bed, 1t is possible to
permit much more grazing the first
Two or three years and to get per-
manent sod more quickly by seeding
/ mixture Of grasses, such rs orchard
grass, redtop. red or alsike clover,
tail oat-grass, or timothy, along with
the bluegrass. Bluegrass and white
clover will eventual ycrowd out the
most of the other grasses, although
! orchard grass will persist for many
years. thereby adding to the early
spring and late fall grazing.
The Virginia agricultural expert
ment station has demonstrated that
fairly close grazing will keep a blue
grass sod in better condition than
light grazing, as the latter practice
allows the grass and weeds an op-
portunity to seed. Cleaning up a field
at the close of the grazing period
seems to have a similar effect. The
trampling OF the field by stock, unless
the land is so wet that It cuts up bad
ly, is also beneficial It must be re-
membercd that the soil of an old turf
tends to become too loose. In one
case in England It was found that
rolling the old pasture fields was the
most effective method OF cradicating
moss.
A field that is neither mown or
grazed will never form desirable
turf. but, on the other hand, over
grazing may destroy the plants. There
is, however, very little overgrazing
in the bluegrass region and there is
greater danger of not keeping suf-
iicient stock on the pasture. Over
grazed fields have the appearance of
neglected lawns. Closely clipped blue
grass on fertile soil makes such II
dense turf that most weeds have diff
Guilty in invading it. When the grass
Is allowed TO go to seed, the turf is
weakened and more open places occur
in 1t. 1t is pointed out also that while
there Is greater bulk OF forage pro-
duced when the grass is allowed to
mature the young grass has a much
higher nutritive value, which Offsets
, the deficiency in yield. In fattening
cattle, the nutritive value of the blue,
Grass, especially the protein content.
which may vary considerably, is 4
highly important factor.
Care of Pastures.
Very little labor is necessary 10
keep 4 good pasture in first class con
dition. All loose stones and rubbish
that are removed give that much more
space for grass plants TO grow. All
brush or trees not needed for shade
or other purposes should be cut or
deadened by girdling.
In addition to the above suggestions.
all tall-growing weeds should be mown
at least once a year, preferably just
before they form seed. II is a com
mon practice in central Kentucky and
in some other sections Of the blue
grass region to NOW the weeds. This
is done with moving machine IL the
fields are sufficiently smooth; other
wise, by man with scythe. The diff
ference in the appearance of fields in
localities where weed moving is prac-
tlced and where it is not is very strlk-
ing. Moving will usually hold in check
most OF the common weeds, such as
ragweed, oXeye daisy. thistles and
briars. A few sheep on cattle pas
lures have been found very efficient
in keeping down troublesome seeds
Danger Of HaWkweed.
There recently has been introduced
into southwestern Virginia a weed
that gives promise of being more dam
aging to pastures than ANYTHING that