The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1916-02-04
FORAGE CROPS FOR ARKANSAS.
No. 4. Grasses For Pasture and Hay.

BY Earl fitzpatrick. Extension Agrono-
my, University of Arkansas.
Grasses are a vital factor III sue.
cessful and permanent agriculture.
The washing and teaching, which is
impoverishing the soils of thousands
the cotton, corn, and other clean cul
tivated crops We're 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. LAM
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 Ber-
mGda, orchard grass, red top, and
Kentucky blue grass: and ANIMALS or
those which live for only one year as
Sudan grass Bermuda grows only
during the warm season, while or
ehard 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
concentrations Arkansas mus. be di-
vided into at least three different sec
lions. according to soils and climate
as follows: First. North and North
east Arkansas; second bottom soils IF
East and South Arkansas; third, up
land and sandy soils OF East and
South Arkansas. In the north and
northwest section orchard grass IS che
surest grass and should generally De
the basis OF a permanent pasture or
meadow. Orchard grass is superior
to timothy because il is adapted TO Il
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, alor& 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 a meadow orchard grass and raA
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 a second pasture
The following characteristics and
adaptations should be noted IN 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
lucky blue grass does we'll only on
the lime soils III the cooler part Of
the state IN other sections the hot
dry weather of summer kills IL Or
chard grass is not likely to be sue
cessful on q sandy soil. but it is es
pecially adapted 10 the clay hills
Some other grass or clover should al
ways be sown with orchard grass be-
cause OF its habit Of growing in dense
clumps instead of making a sod, es-
pecially if a thin stand is secured
Tall meadow oat, fescue. English
blue, and other grasses have promises
of being valuable under certain con
on soils that are medium to fertile,
and that are we'll drained
II 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 very much on
permanent pastures. Therefore
great campaign should be undertaken
this year for more clovers and
ten thousand farmers who now have
no permanent pastures should be
pleQSeu W otdit ,iis SPi ihe dt ledSt
three to five acres OF permanent pas
ture and to seed cloyers and grasses
on every waste spot on the farm.
Thousands and thousands of acres of
hillsides 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
dexa, bur clover and Bermuda