The Harrison times., 1917-05-26
THE PASTURE IS
A BIG PROBLEM
Profitable Pastures the Basis Of the
Economic Production OF
Livestock.
(By L. W. Osborn, Arkansas Expert
ment Station, Fayetteville)

ne OASIS lOI llt tCOuOulCdl pIO-
ductiOn Of livestock on any farm is
found in the ability OF the farmer 10
produce an abundance of cheap, pald-
table and nutritious roughage during
. all seasons Of the year The South
ern farmer by properly taking advan-
tage Of different pasture combinations
/ can do much to attain this end.
Temporary pastures usually afford
an abundance of grazing for a short
time only. Cowpeas, late varieties Of
Soy beans and velvet beans planted
/ alone in the spring, or after small
grain crop Is removed, or between
corn rows, or in combination with
sorghums, produce a heavy yield OF
| forage which can be used for late
summer and fall grazing. Spanish
peanuts planted in about the same
way afford big possibilities in pastur-
ing hogs in late autumn when other
pastures are getting short. Corn
stalks left in the field after the
corn is removed especially when peas
or beans are present, are always a
profitable pasture.
For late fall, winter or early spring
pasture the fall seeded small grains
are most satisfactory. Fall seeded an
nual legumes such as crimson clover,
hairy vetch, and bur clover can also
be used to good advantage.
Quickly established pastures Of
short duration are cheaply obtained
on good soils in limestone sections
OF north Arkansas, and especially on
the rich alluvial soils in northeast Ar
kansas by seeding red clover in early
spring on winter wheat. The red
clover comes on after the small grain
is harvested, and frequently yields
very well. Lespedeza, seeded in the
same way, on wheat or winter oats
or with spring oats, in the place Of
red clover, will make a good summer
pasture on good lands In other parts
Of the state.
The basis OF any permanent pasture
in any section should be the plant CT
plants which grow most generally or
freely in that section For example,
In the limestone soils in northern bor-
der counties Of the state, Kentucky
Blue Grass 1ourishes and can be
made a constituent in every pasture
combination in that section. Bermu-
da, on the other hand, will do well in
hot weather and stands drouth we'll
At the same time it is adapted to al
most all soils. These reasons make
Bermuda a desirable basis for a pas
ture in all parts Of the state. Les
pedeZa is suitable for the same con-
ditions as Bermuda and the two DO
very well together. White or Dutch
clover is persistent wherever grown,
and is entitled to place in pasture
mixtures. Red Top is adapted to a
wide range of conditions in the state
making the best growth on moist soil,
but still proving fairly drought-resist-
ant and hardy on uplands. Orchard
grass has won a well deserved place
as both a pasture and meadow grass
In at least the northern half OF the
state. Many farmers have practiced
seeding this grass broadcast on cut
over lands and have had good results.
In some Of the northern costal plain
counties Of the state, carpet grass is
found growing naturally and makes
an excellent pasture.
In seeding pasture, variety OF
plants consisting of both legumes and
grasses is desirable. The different
kinds used mature at different times,
and more feed is produced. Likewise
the legumes used have a beneficial #.
feet on the soil.
Getting a good pasture established
is frequently no easy task. A well
prepared seed bed in which the sub
soil is firm and the surface in a fine,
loose condition. is most ideal where
small slowly terminating grass seeds
are used Bermuda can be establish.
ed on good soils by broadcastng seed
ut the rate Of SO pounds per acre dur
ing April and May when moisture
conditions are favorable. Bermuda
roots can also be used and the
chances Of getting a stand are in.
creased bV their uSp eSnecialIv ubera
soil and moisture conditions are not
OF the best. Orchard grass, Red Top
and most OF the clovers are best seed.
ed in the early spring.
A good combination to use with
Bermuda is spotted bur clover 90.
20 pounds in the bur, in August)
White clover GA pounds in early fall
or late winter) and Lespedeza OOPS
pounds in February or March,.
Where Bermuda is Objectionable a
permanent pasture is more difficult to
maintain, especially on poorer types
OF soils A mixture OF Red Top (S-10
pounds, Alsike clover (4.6 pounds,,
White clover GA pounds) and Les.
pedeza' (20-25 pounds) should be a
desirable substitute, especially on
damp lands In northern sections OF
the state, especially on uplands,
mixture OF orchard grass n5.20
pounds) Red Top (4.6 pounds). Bur
clover nO-2O pounds in burr, White