CARE OF GRASS LANDS. 257 



which is the best use of the land. On dry lands subject to fre- 

 quent and severe droughts, the grass soon runs out. After 

 reseeding, they give a great crop the first year, less the next, and 

 gradually the clover and Timothy die out. 



We are informed that the best jiastures in England along the 

 banks of the Axe, the Brue, and the Parret, rent annually for 

 five to eight pounds sterling j^er acre, or about twenty-five to 

 forty dollars. In one instance, £3,000 was offered for 10 acres 

 of such pasture land and refused. Such pastures are green in 

 the spring when everything else is brown, and they grow on into 

 late autumn when other j)astures have ceased to support stock. 

 They supply food for a much longer period than inferior pastures, 

 and save a couple of month's winter keep. 



In Holland an acre of permanent pasture is said to carry one 

 cow and a sheep. In Herkimer county, New York, rich perma- 

 nent pastures carry one cow to each acre and a half, while in 

 much of Xew England, Professor Stockbridge says, " Eight acres 

 are required for one cow, and then she comes home at night 

 looking disappointed." 



Secretary W. I. Chamberlain, of Ohio, in the Country Gentle- 

 man, says : " Our pastures are not so i^roductive as we suppose. A 

 fine old pasture of three years standing, when mowed in a good 

 season, yielded less than a ton to the acre, and in one season less 

 than half a ton per acre. The grass was short June grass, red- 

 top, red clover, white clover, and some Timothy. The land is 

 capable of better things. Next to it is a field, no better land, 

 from which I have twice within 10 years taken over three tons 

 j)er acre of cured hay. Not even tile draining and top dressing 

 will restore such old pastures and meadows. A rich ten-acre 

 fi^ld of good, newly seeded pasture will ' carry ' more cows than 

 forty acres of old j^asture." 



The seeding down to good, permanent 2)asture, even under the 

 most favorable conditions, is a slow and costly process. As we 

 33 



