Pocahontas star herald., 1916-02-11
FORAGE CROPS FOR ARKANSAS.
No. 4 orasses 81 Pa.lurs ana ~

my University OF Arkansas.
Grasses are a vital factor In sue.
eessful and permanent agriculture.
The washing and teaching, which Is
impoverishlng the soils Of thousands
OF farms would be largely stopped Il
the cotton, corn, and other clean cul-
iyatod crops were exchanged for
grasses. The roots OF this class OF
plants hold the soil, MI e up with nu.
mus and have renoyating effect
upon Il In general The perennial pas
lures and meadows furnish q 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, win usually pay hand
some profit II 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 ANNALS or
those which live for only one year as
Sudan grass. Bermuda grows only
during the warm season, while or,
charI grass, Kentucky blue grass and
some others stay green q large portion
Of the winter Red top Is especially
adapted to wet soils, while Bermuda
grows on n 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 di-
vided into at least three different sec
tlons. according to soils and climate
as follows: First, North and North
cast Arkansas; second bottom soils Of
East and South Arkansas; third. mp.
land and sandy soils Of East and
South Arkansas In the north and
northwest section orchard grass &C. lGg
su~est grass and should generally D0
the basis OF permanent pasture or
meadow. Orchard grass is superior
to timothy because it is adapted 90
larger variety OF soils. Is not so hard
on soil, furnishes superior pasture
and a 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 are
short IN lime. Red and Uhite clover
should also be put into the mixture
For n 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
n permanent pasture or meadow The
disadvantage Of Bermuda not being
green for pasture during winter can
be remedicd by putting bur clover on
the sod or by having a 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 well only on
the lime soils in the cooler part Of
the state: IN other sections the hot
dry weather Of summer kills it. Or
chard grass is not likely to be sue.
cessnIl 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.
cause ofrits 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 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 cloyers and
ten thousand farmers who now have
ne permanent pastures should be
pledged to start this spring at least
three to FIVE acres Of permanent pas.
ture and to seed clovers and grasses
on every waste spot on the farm
Thousands and thousands Of acres Of
billsides and rough land in northern
and western Arkansas should be
seeded to orchard grass, Lespedeza
white clover, sweet clover and blue,
grass or Bermuda, and thousands Of
acres Of cut.over lands in southern
Arkansas should be seeded TO Lespe
deEa, bur clover and Bermuda