510 THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPAEDIA. 



(2) IT OFFERS AN EARLIER AND LATER BITE THAN OTHER PASTURES. 



It is a well-known fact in the growth of pastures where a number of 

 different plants exists, 'that by such an association there is mutual sup- 

 port, nursing, and shelter, which give early and late growth. The value 

 of this early bite is something incalculable after a long, close winter, and 

 particularly, it meets the heavy " back-going " of which we see so much 

 in ordinary practice among cattle and sheep. So also, the rich " foggage " 



ids on deep into winter. 



(3) ANIMALS ARE MORE HEALTHY AND LESS LIABLE TO DISEASE UPON IT. 



All experience goes to show that browsing animals more than others 

 require change of food often, not only in the form of soft succulent growth 

 but harder and woody matters at the same time. Some of the grasses and 

 clovers are also directly medicinal to cattle and sheep, so that altogether, 

 with a choice of ten or twelve throughout the season, health is better and 

 diseases less frequent. 



(4) IT CANNOT POSSIBLY BE DESTROYED BY DROUGHT OR FROST. 



The immense importance of this needs little comment : it comes strongly 

 home to us in this country. It is obvious that as association of plants and 

 roots gives mutual support and protection with a close surface, there is 

 necessary much less risk of damage when rain is scarce and heat abun- 

 dant much less evaporation and less " cracking " of the surface. As 

 crop after crop succeeds each other week by week and month by month? 

 the soil is not exposed to the burning sun, and moisture is retained to 

 nourish at all times. Then again, if winter or summer excesses do kill two 

 or three kinds, there remains enough to make the pasture still of greater 

 val ue than anything else. All through the very severe drought of several 

 seasons past, the permanent pasture of the Ontario Experimental Farm 

 was never bare, never wanting a fresh bite, but so close and strong that 

 we had to separate with the hand in order to view the surface soil. 



(5) IT GIVES MORE DAIRY PRODUCE THAN ANY OTHER FORM OF FODDER. 



During the last half century the best managed old pastures of England 

 have stood at more value per acre than the richest arable land, partly be- 

 cause of their permanency of crops, and largely because of their being able 

 to graze three cows per acre. There seems no reason why Ontario cannot 

 do one-third as well as this, and I am convinced it can be done. For 



