47^ Bulletin 280. 



Area of pasture land in New York. — 



Total area of land in farms 22,648, 109 acres 



Area of improved farm land 15 ,599,986 " 



Area of unimproved farm land 7 ,048, 123 " 



The area in improved land is distributed as follows: 



Area in hay and forage crops 5 , 154,965 acres 



Area in all other crops 4 , 366 , 683 " 



Area with no crop reported 6 , 078, 338 " 



No statistics have ever been taken of the amount of land in pastures. 

 Probably the greater part of the area for which no crop is reported 

 is in pastures. Moreover, much of the unimproved farm land is also 

 used more or less for pasture. Open woods are classed as unimproved 

 land. The farm wood-lot often adds materially to the pasture area 

 of the farm. 



DECREASING YIELD OF PASTURES 



It is generally conceded by farmers that our pastures are decreasing 

 in efficiency. In a great many instances they are becoming less pro- 

 ductive. Among the causes operating to bring about this condition 

 the following may be mentioned, each of which will be considered 

 later in this bulletin: 



1. The increased number of weeds and brush. 



2. Too close grazing. 



3. The neglect of adding fertilizers. 



While our pastures are losing in efficiency, the finished products 

 dependent upon them are increasing in value. Consequently it is of 

 the greatest importance to the farmer that he know how to treat his 

 pasture lands so that the greatest profit may be derived from them, not 

 only for the present but for the future. 



It should be noted that many farmers, realizing the value of the 

 pasture, have begun a system of improvement, results of which are 

 very gratifying. Several examples of this will be mentioned later in 

 this bulletin and the methods followed will be discussed. 



PASTURE PLANTS 



Kinds of plants. — There are two classes of plants which are desirable 

 for pastures — grasses and clovers. The different species of these differ 

 greatly in habit of growth and adaptation. In order clearly to under- 

 stand the best method of pasture management, the fanner must be 

 familiar with the peculiarities of various plants. 



