26 



stitnt€. and every farmer should have some corn which can be used 

 to feed in July and Auofust when necessary. Some farmers in 

 central Iowa advocate the more extended use of corn fodder for 

 this purpo.se. They believe that less area should be devoted to 

 the grass pasture. A Blue grass turf is a producer of wealth, and if 

 properly managed increases in importance as the country becomes 

 older. Short rotation is not advised, though many fanners get 

 excellent results by planting Blue-grass seed in the cornfields. In 

 the spring of 1895, and especially the fall of 1894, many farmers 

 were disheartened because of the many vacant spots left in the 

 pastures. These were soon occupied by Squirrel-tail grass, or 

 Wild Barley, and Pep])er-grass {Lepidium apetahnn Willd.). These 

 pastures have entirely recovered during the past season. 



The .subject of Blue-grass should not be passed without saying some- 

 thing of its use in the central section of the State as a winter for- 

 age plant. When speaking of winter pa.sturage in Iowa, the farmer 

 refers to Blue gra.ss. It is a well-known fact that cattle do remark- 

 ably well on this grass in the winter. Though it has lost in nutri- 

 tive qualities, it is highly relished and serves a most excellent 

 puri)Ose in keeping the digestive organs of the animal in good 

 condition. With a good winter pasture of Blue-gra.ss it will be 

 unnecessary to use the " stock foods'' to regulate the organs of 

 secretion. Farmers .should not lose sight of the fact that over- 

 stocking is injurious. To be in good condition for the winter it 

 should not be over.stocked in September and October. Other 

 glasses have been tried in this way. Texas Blue-grass has received 

 considerable notoriety in this respect, and while perfectly hardy 

 at Ames, Iowa-, nothing can be said about its use in central Iowa 

 for this purpose, since it has not been extensively tried. 

 The composition of winter-grown and summer-grown Blue-grass, 



according to analyses made at the Iowa Experiment Station by Prof. 



(j. E. Patrick and Mr. C. M. Wade, is as follows: 



AnahjHes of winter-grown and Hummer-groxcn Blue-grass. 



