IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURES IN EASTERN NEW YORK, ETC. 7 



DETERIORATION MOSTLY DUE TO OVERGRAZING. 



The (leteriordtion of pastures carrying dairy cattle is for the most 

 part (kie to too close grazing. It is a provision of nature that per- 

 ennial plants store up food in their roots, which is used by them when 

 starting a fresh growth in the early spring. If such plants are kept 

 grazed so closely that they are unable to store up tliis food they even- 

 tually become enfeebled and die. In addition, there are a number 

 of other conditions resulting from close grazing. First, close grazing 

 carried on over a jjeriod of years results in a heavy loss of humus, 

 which is necessary for plant growth. Also, when a pasture is grazed 

 closely, so that there is no plant growth to form a mulch (PI. I, 

 fig. 1), the evaporation is very great. Under such conditions the soil 

 becomes too dry for the maintenance of the native forage plants. 

 As the forage plants give way, drought-resisting weeds take their 

 places, as has happened in the pasture shown in Plate II, figure 1. 

 Again, dairy cattle by the production of milk take more from such a 

 pasture than they return. This results in a loss of plant food, which 

 also becomes evident after a period of years. This loss of plant food 

 is much less than in the case of a hay meadow from which the hay is 

 sold 3^ear after year, but nevertheless it is going on just the same. 



METHODS OF IMPROVING PASTURES. 



There are numerous areas on steep sideliills, where the soil is 

 naturally thin and poor and where there is much danger of damage 

 through erosion, that should never have been cleared of timber. If 

 these places have not already reverted to timber they should be 

 reforested as soon as possible." 



The increased price of western grain will probably require the 

 eastern farmer to go back to the old plan of raising a considerable 

 part, if not all, of liis concentrates. Under such conditions the pas- 

 ture will play a very important part, as it does in Europe,'' in farm- 

 ing operations. This can be done by better systems of handhng 

 stock, in order to prevent too early grazing and overstocking; also 

 by fertilization, cultivation, reseeding, and the eradication of weeds. 



As this deterioration has been going on for a long time the restora- 

 tion can not be accomplished in one year. Based on results obtained 

 in similar work elsewhere it is very probable that the improvement 

 can ordinarily be accompHshed in from three to five years with a 

 comparatively small outlay of money. 



« Information relative to the reforesting of such areas can be secured by writing to 

 the Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



b See Bulletin 140, Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, 1909. 

 [Clr. 49] 



