The Oakes times., 1916-08-31
THE IMPORTANCE AND
CARE OF PASTURES

prepared lOT Recent Issue OF
the North Dakota Farmer by W.
b. Richards County Agricultural
Agent.
North Dakota is making rapid
progress in the production of live
stock. This has been especially
true within the past four OF five
years. 1t is evident that a large
majority OF the farmers OF the
state have come to the realization
that ii is essential to practice diver
sl1lcalion for the day of practicing
exclusive grain growing at profit
has past for most portions OF the
state and that corn. grass and some
form OF lcgumc must be grown in
the rotation on tn. land in order to
maintain the land in a productive
condition. There are. however.
many things we all have to learn
in connection with the raising of
live stock in North Dakota in order
to make this branch of the farm
management problem yield the
greatest profit within itself and to
the production OF the other pro-
ducts on the same farm. We have
live stock problems OF our own that
must he solved, which are quite dis
tinct from the problems they have
to confront in other states. How
ever, there is much that has been
done and is being done in adjoining
states in the raising of live stock
in the way of practices that we can
profit by. through their use. The
above is true in its relation to the
pasture problem.
BETTER PASTURES A GREAT NEED
The advancement in the profit
able production OF live stock is suf-
iering more in this locality from
lack of proper pastures than any
one other factor. 1t is very rare
TO see what would be considered a
good tam. grass pasture in this
state. have seen some and ! am
convinced it is possible to have
more OF them, and in fact as many
as needed. providing an effort is
made on the part OF our farmers to
get them by following the proper
steps to secure them. Advance all
tn" argument you wish in favor of
the summer silo as substitute for
pasture. it can not replace the pas
ture on our large farms, at the
present time. considering the price
of labor and the need for grass in
the rotation in order to eradicate
the weeds from our land. 1t NAV
be possible on the smaller farms To-
Gated in the dryer sections of the
state, the summer silo will prove
more profitable than providing pas
ture. in time. as the land advances
in price. This. it be understood
is no argument against the silo and
use Of corn silage to provide wintc,
feed for live stock. For winte,
feed, silage is cheapest feed tina,
can be raised on the farm. Thi.
has been established without a
doubt. The summer silo also ha:
Its place where pasture is pro
vided for the stock especially 70,
cattle and sheep.
Here is where it is possible to pu
in effect practice by which on,
can secure better pastures. L
silage is led to the stock when tn.
pasture is short due to drought O,
over stocking the pasture can be re
licved from the drain upon it O
when necessity seems to require i
in order to give it an entire rest o.
time to rccuperatc, so that its lii,
be prolonged and its usefulness i,
the future increased. Both tn,
stock and the pasture need the sill
age at this critical stage.
PASTURE ABUSES
This leads up to the subject O
pasture abuses. and this to me i
the keynote to the reasons why W.
have not more better tame grasse
in most sections of this state an,
why they have not been value'
more highly. Few of our farmer
have given much attention to tn
care OF pastures to date and it j
doubtless whether many realize tn
necessity of giving pastures carefr
attention or how to care for then
There is an impression prevaler
that this is not a good grass coun
try. This has been brought abou
because but few OF our people hav
given grass a chance to see what
would do under our condition.
The wild grasses thrive we'll a
over the state. This being the cas-
is it not good evidence that the tam
grasses will also do we'll here
once given a chance to establis