Pastures and Pasture Grass Mixtures 797 



fertilizek 



Extensive observation shows that, so far as fertilizers are con- 

 cerned, most pastures need lime and phosphorus. When seeding 

 can be done on a well-tilled field with oats or some such nurse 

 crop, it is wise to use 2,000 pounds or more of ground limestone 

 or its equivalent per acre, together with 200 to 400 pounds of acid 

 phosphate. Where thorough tillage cannot be practiced, there is 

 more of a question as to what to do in regard to the application of 

 plant foods. Lime should usually be employed and applications 

 of phosphorus may also pay. In such cases, it is advisable to 

 make a trial on a few limited areas first to determine what the 

 efi^ects are, using the knowledge thus obtained on which to base 

 future practice. In many eases where there is a fair stand of 

 pasture grass, and weeds are not too thick — pasture being poor 

 because of a lack of vigor of the stand — top-dressings of lime, also 

 acid phosphatCi, prove very beneficial. Stable manure can be 

 used with most excellent results in establishing new pastures, in 

 maintaining them, and in rejuvenating old ones; but it is ques- 

 tionable if under usual circumstances it is permissible to remove 

 it from the regular rotation. It is very true, however, that old 

 pastures having a reasonably good stand of grass can be' made 

 to yield abundantly for some time by small applications of it. 



SEEDING mixtures 



Many pastures in New York are poor because they have never 

 been seeded with a pasture mixture. When the land was cleared 

 and put out to pasture or when it was used for pasture after hav- 

 ing been cropped for a time and seeded for meadow, it was assumed 

 that grasses suitable for pasture would grow naturally in suffi- 

 cient abundance and variety. In some cases the assumption worked 

 out ; in many others it did not. Because of this condition there is 

 but little attempt made on the part of most farmers to utilize 

 pasture mixtures. In the past, such pastures as there were have 

 existed without them ; also, there is very little knowledge on the 

 part of the rank and file iu regard to the habits, uses, and values 

 of the different plants that can be utilized for the purpose of 



