Putnam patriot., 1930-01-30
TIM FL Y FARM TOPICS
 bB the County Agricultural Agent
The Value and Cost of Good Pasture'

The Value and Cost of Good Pastures
 An attempt was made last month to point out that many conditions in Connecticut are favorable for pro 3ucing good pastures. There is much low value, but potentially good land; there is an exceptionally favorable amount and distribution cf rainfall. Yet. in spite of these advantages most pastures are neglected and are continually decreasing in productive ness.
 The most obvious problem is wheth CT or not improvement will return more than the investment required. The answer must be that bt all de- bends upon the kind of improvement and value of the pasture secured.
 The most common method of eval- lating pastures is to credit the pas ture for all the grain. hay and silage replaced and for the extra milk or growth secured. In case the winter .eed is costing too much, of course this method gives the pasture greater value than is really justiiable. How ever, if we value pasture at what other feeds it will replace, we are al- most certain to change our ideas about the importance cf pasture and not badly exaggerated at that Did you ever figure what it would mean to feed no hay. no silage, or soiling crop and only half to one-third as much grain as used in winter, for the entire pasture season from May l to November |?
 With a fair value established for pasture. what are the most satisfac- tory methods for improvement? The method can be either Go secure the maximum amount of pasture or the maximum return for each dollar in- vested. In the grazing experiment at Storrs superphosphate returned SS.54 for each dollar invested; limestone S2.64; nitrogen carriers S1.27 and potash has not returned the original cost These figures are for the first five years after treatment and do not give credit for the vast improvement existing at the end of that period
 A large portion of Connecticut can he vastly improved by merely top dressing with lime and superphos- phate as was done in the experiment at Storrs. Even the initial cost of ma terials and the amount of labor re- duired are small. When this cost is divided by the number of years the growth is improved, the cost is ex- tremely small.
 When acreage is limited or the soils excessively drained, blowing and seeding may be necessary. Such a plan requires greater investment but t,4N sf sa En W- pected. Even the cost of starting sweet clover is small in comparison with the value of the feed which may be replaced.
 This article is based on material from one by J. s. Owens, Extension Agronomist of the Connecticut Agri- cultural College, Storrs.
 Fruit Growers Institute
 The Annual Institute of the Gum ehaug Valley Fruit Growers Assoeia- ton will be held in the chapel of the Congregational church in Woodstock on Friday. February 7th. at 10.30 The program is one that should be in teresting:
 10.30 A. M. The County Fruit Pro gram by Raymond F.. Wing, County Agricultural Agent; HOO A. NJ. In- sect Control by Fred F.. Cole, Fruit Specialist of Worcester County. Mass achusetts; 12.00 Noon. Basket lunch 100 P. Nj. Oil Sprays. by Doctor Phil ip Garman, New Haven Exp't. Sta ton. New Haven. (also l0-minute talk on "Curculio") 1.45 P M. A summary of the Rochester. New York, Fruit Meeting. by Extension Fruit Specialist, W. II. Darrow. Storrs; 2.30 P. NJ. Question box.
 RAYMOND E. WING,
 County Agricultural Agent.