PASTURES AND MEADOWS. 43 



portions of the West, except the Sand Hills, the important j^rasses arc: 

 Hullalo orass (/j//M/7/.v dactyloidt's lint'.) and blue «,''rania {liontehnia 

 olu/oxfnchijti Torr. ). 



An important orass in the West, especially for hay, is the wheat- 

 grass {Aijropiji-on orclihntdh). This spreads by extensively creepinji: 

 underground stems. The foliai'-c is stitl' and rathei- harsh, but never- 

 iheless it forms a very nutritious hay. This grass is more resistant 

 to drought than any of the hay grassi>s of the West. 



There are many other grasses which are of more or less agricultural 

 importance, but, compared with those mentioned, they are insigniticant, 



CARE OF NATIVE PASTURES AND MEADOWS. 



Unless proper pi-ecautions are taken to prevent it, l)oth meadows 

 and i)astures tend to deteriorate. In pastures the stock are contin- 

 ually eating otl the most palatal >1«' plants and avoiding the others, 

 which are in this respect weeds. To prevent such exhaustion it is 

 necessary to limit the number of stock to the forage-producing power 

 of the pasture. The same is true of the open range. (Jreat harm has 

 resulted in many instances from overstocking. Particular care nuist 

 be exercised in this respect at what might be called critical periods, 

 or when unfavorable conditions, such as drought, curtail the produc- 

 tion of grass. In pastures this exhaustion can be avoided by su[)i)lc- 

 mentino- the o-razinu" bv soilino- crops. An excellent wav to encouiage 

 the recuperative power of the native grasses is to give the pasture a 

 rest by providing two pastures, which may be used alternately for 

 periods of from two to four weeks. 



With meadows deterioration is less marked, as the weeds are cut at 

 the same time as the grass. However, it is advisable to allow the 

 grasses to go to seed occasionalh^ It is a bad practice to pasture the 

 aftermath during the autumn, as this encourages the growth of weeds. 



The burning otf of pastures or meadows is not to l)e reconunended, 

 as experience has demonstrated that though a green growth can be 

 induced earlier the final results are harmful. The crowns of the grasses 

 are injured and the fertilizing effect of the dried leaves is lost. 



On the other hand, the practice of mowing the weeds in pastures in 

 sunmier is good, as they are thus prevented from going to seed. 



If the num))er of stock limited to its capacity is allowed to use the 

 pasture, the manure thus distributed tends to keep up fertility; but 

 meadows are constantly giving up nutriment drawn from the soil, the 

 loss of which nmst in time visibly affect the capacity. Therefore, 

 whei-ever the value of the hay is a sufficient recompense, it is well to 

 suppl}' barnyard manure to make up this loss. 



