Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-26
Weekly Bureau of In
formation for All Who
Till the Soil or AreInter-
estcd in Making Homes
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST
OF THE PASTURE YOU HAVE

Right now. with the present high
""iccs OF feed. live stock and scarcity
Of labor. the pasture ought to be the
most profitable area on the farm. But
TO our shame II is not.
We think il is not out OF the way t.
say that not one farm in ten, cast or
west. north or south. has pasture
worthy Of the name. Most of them are
Just vacant lots crowded with weeds.
brush. and little patches Of grass that
fail in the heat and drought OF sum-
ncr. and bring scauty returns for the
value OF the land.
Tho first essential for good pasture
Is soil that will grow grasses. Som.
soils are TOO poor to grow grasses.
Some contain enough fertility but other
conditions are such that the fertility
cannot be used by the grass plants.
The land may be so we: or sour that
the grass will not grow on it. Such
lands may De put in the right cond-
tion with proper underdra!nS.
Some farmers seem to think that wet
land is better for grass than we'll
drained land; but such is not the case,
except for certain wild grasses OF poor
feeding value Blue grass. rci-top
orchard grass, timothy and all OF the
best pasture grasses require we'll
drained land for their best growth.
III many cases comparatively rolling
and wcll-drained soils are too sour for
grasses to grow TO advantage. Apply
ing from half a ton to several ton Of
lime according 10 the acidity of the
SOLD TO the acre OF such soils VIII.
swcc,en them so that they will pro-
duce excellent growth or the best
grasses.
The trouble with the average pasture
is that is is grazed from year 10 year
without any attention to fertiliza ton
II is true that the animals return
~ no m
field through their droppings. but it is
also true that much OF the fertility II.
the manure of the animals. cspeciai,.
in winter when they are sheltered. is
deposited in the stable and removed
to other fields to feed other crops
gradually impoverished OF it's store Of
plant food.
TO produce 2 profitable growth of
grass In the permanent pasture. the
soil must he regularly and heavily
fortified with substances that vii,
make grass grow. Dressing with sta
BILE manure. bone cal. ground phos-
pha,e rock and potash are all good
IL Will not he necessary to apply all at
the same time. hut ono kind may he
applied one year and another Kind auo-
Their year.
The really good pasture must he
Kept seeded and given surface culti-
walton OF some KIM at least every
TWO NearS--evcry year would be bet
icr--to he profitable. Every square
foot of area should grow a good crop.
and this is not tho case in half the
pastures OF this country: The seeding
and cultivation may bc done at the
same time. preferably in the spring or
very early in the summer.
only tho bare spots Will need sceo-
ing. |! these spots are small rake
the seed in with a mandrake; if large
with good harrow.
For cultivation. go over the uas,ure
with sharp tooth harrow. both WAYS
or cut tho surface with a disc harrow
Tho disc SET nearly straight This viii
relieve any Sod-bound condition ana
/, allow The air to get down to tho roo, :
OF tho grasses.
narrowing or cutting Will divide tho
underground stems OF tho grasses ana
h"Ip 10 make "A thicker and more even
stand
Grasses Will no, thrive with brush
an" weeds Dig the brush out win
lie EruhbinG hoe. To Kill the weeds
NOV the pasture at least twice o,,.h
summer. This viii let the air ana
.isHt III 'ae grass plants and make
iour Pasture may bc made a sourc.
prom AND a JOY To behold instead
OF waste and an cyc-sorc I'm, :,
WI! require work and always work