262 CARE OF PASTUHES. 



gain and thrive, a grass needs some green leaves as much as a 

 horse needs fresh air and a stomach to digest a liberal allowance 

 of food. 



Experiments show the following from the Country Gentleman 

 to be true: *'If cut very frequently and kept short, like the 

 grasses of a lawn, the roots will not make the same size and 

 extent of growth as when the stalks and leaves have free develop- 

 ment. The roots depend as much on the leaves as the leaves and 

 stems do on the roots." 



Pastures should not be allowed to grow very long in the spring 

 without feeding, as the culms run up and blossom and m?ke a 

 growth distasteful to all kinds of stock. By movable fences, or 

 otherwise, it is a good plan to feed off a piece rather closely, let 

 it get a start, then feed off again evenly. 



In large pastures, animals are likely to pick some places closely 

 and leave others to run to seed. A mixture of animals, or one 

 kind of animal following another, will keep pastures more evenly 

 fed than will one kind alone. To prevent patches from going to 

 seed, mow them a small quantity at a time, and when the grass 

 is wilted it Avill generally be eaten by the stock. In such places 

 a fresh bite very agreeable to cattle and sheep will often start up. 



Pastures and meadows are very frequently eaten close to the 

 ground late in autumn, especially if the season be a dry one. 

 This is a severe drain on the vitality of the plants and causes 

 them to be a long time starting in the following spring. Joseph 

 Harris says: " On an old Timothy meadow closely joastured last 

 fall, this year the hay was not over half a ton to the acre. On 

 another meadow not so pastijred, the grass was as thick and 

 heavy as it could grow." 



Some fall growth is necessary to give the plant strength for a 

 good start in the spring. 



With reference to the pastures of Maine, Professor Stockbridge 

 said, on page 70 of the Agricultural Report for 1876: "^ What is 



