17 



places redtop, large water-grass, and alsike clover should be added. 

 For the black prairie region Texas blue grass and sweet clover are the 

 best additions. On the light soils of the coast region carpet grass, 

 large water-grass, giant beggar-weed, and mutton-cane largely replace 

 the redtop and clover of more Northern sections. 



CARE OP PASTURE LANDS. 



When a satisfactory permanent pasture has been secured, it needs 

 the same care and attention which are given to other parts of the farm. 

 Heavy fertilizing is seldom necessary, though an occasional applica- 

 tion of cotton seed meal and muriate of potash are profitable for stim- 

 ulating a better growth on thin spots. The most common injury to 

 pastures is that caused by being grazed too closely. When grazed so 

 closely as to leave the surface of the ground partially exposed and to 

 weaken the roots of the grasses, rolling lands are often seriously injured 

 by washing. Small washes are easily stopped by driving in a few 

 stakes and banking around them witli Bermuda sods. On clay soils 

 the presence of bitterweed is a sure indication that the land has been 

 overpastured. It is practically impossible to destroy the weed by 

 digging or mowing, and the best treatment for a pasture in whicli it 

 has made its appearance is to fertilize liberally and graze it less 

 heavily, when the weed will soon disappear. It is never troublesome 

 in fertile pastures which are not overgrazed. 



TEMPORARY PASTURES. 



tn a region where it is so difticult to secure perennials for permanent 

 pastures, and where the growing season is so long that two or more 

 crops can be grown on the same land yearly, temporary pastures of 

 quick-growing annuals will always be largely used, and in many sec- 

 tions will afford the most economical grazing for different seasons. 

 Fields from which oats, melons, potatoes, and other early crops have 

 been removed make fine pastures from July until the end of summer. 

 Cornfields in which cowpeas have been i)lanted make the best of fall 

 grazing, while oats and vetches make abundant and nutritious winter 

 feed. These can be grown on laud from which early crops have 

 already been taken. Tliey cost nothing but the seed and the sowing, 

 and on many soils heavy volunteer crops give fine grazing for three or 

 four months with absolutely no cost. Under such conditions tempo- 

 rary pastures are not makeshifts, but are an important part of a well- 

 arranged rotation. 



The most valuable plants for summer and fall grazing are crab-grass, 

 crowfoot, Mexican clover, and Florida beggar- weed, all of which make 

 volunteer growths so late in the season as not to interfere with other 

 crops, and will cover and protect fields which would otherwise be idle. 

 Crab grass is abundant everywhere in cultivated land. Crowfoot is 

 rare in the northern and western sections, but is common southward 

 5729- No. 15 2 



