8 IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURES IN EASTERN NEW YORK, ETC, 



THE PREVENTION OF OVERGRAZING. 



A very essential point in the improvement of worn-out pastures is 

 the prevention of overgrazing. If a pasture is to be improved it is 

 absolutely necessary that the grass be given a chance to make a good 

 health}^ growth and that some of the plants be allowed to produce 

 seed. This can be done by reducing the number of stock or by 

 giving the cattle additional forage to supplement the pasture. 



THE PREVENTION OF TOO EARLY PASTURING. 



One of the most harmful practices in New York and the New 

 England States is that of turning the cattle on pasture too early in 

 the season. In a great many instances if the cattle were kept off for 

 an additional week or ten days the pasture would produce far more 

 feed during the entire season and would carry more stock. The 

 grass should be given a sufficient start to allow enough green-leaf 

 surface for the manufacture of the necessary substances utilized 

 in its growth. If the grass is not given this chance its growth wdll 

 of necessity be very slow and limited. 



The turning of stock on a pasture wliile the ground is wet and 

 inclined to be "punchy-' is also a very bad practice, especially on a 

 clay soil. The continuous tramphng results in packing the soil so 

 hard that it is difficult for the plant roots to penetrate between the 

 soil particles and get the necessary plant food. This pacldng also 

 prevents the absorption of air and water by the soil. 



FERTILIZING. 



Investigations carried on during the summer of 1909 show that one 

 of the most essential points in pasture improvement is fertilizing. 

 A close inspection of eastern pastures shows them to be lacking in 

 humus. The best remedy for this trouble is barnyard manure. An 

 excellent way of building up a pasture is to haul on the field whatever 

 supplementary feed is given the cattle, placing it on the highest 

 points. This method is used with great success in the corn belt, and 

 also in many parts of the Southern States. If the distance from the 

 pasture to the dairy barns or to the fields where the supplementary 

 feed is grown is too great to make this method practicable, the land 

 can be top-dressed with manure. Much better results will be ob- 

 tained if a light top-dressing is used for three or four years in suc- 

 cession, or longer, than if a large quantity of manure is put on the 

 land in one season. Experiments have proved definitely that rela- 

 tively a much greater value is received from the manure when it is 

 used often and in small quantities than when a large amount is used 

 at one time. 



tCir. 49] 



