CARE OF PASTURES. 261 



than those to which the hay from the first piece would have been 

 given. 



"Land used for pasture yields more nourishment than that 

 where the grass is mowed off. Young shoots are much more 

 nitrogenous than plants in flower and young green plants are 

 more digestible than dried ones. In pastures the droppings of 

 animals enrich the soil. 



' " Aftermaths are richer in nitrogen than first cuts, and they 

 are more nitrogenous the younger they are gathered ; they are 

 richer, also, in phosphoric acid and potash. Theoretically, after- 

 maths constitute a better food than first cuts, yet they sell at a 

 lower price, probably owing to their appearance, and because 

 when dried they are more indigestible." 



In considering the above experiment in reference to the great 

 value of grass cropped often, we should not forget to take into 

 account that cattle and sheep, while they roam over and over 

 the field for pasture, injure the grass more or less with their feet. 



Care of Pastures. In this country, as a rule, they can 

 scarcely be said to receive any care. No crop gets less attention, 

 none would respond more quickly to good care. Much attention 

 has been given to premium crops of corn, wheat, potatoes, the 

 improvement of horses, cattle, sheep, swine ; poultry are encour- 

 aged by liberal premiums, but we seldom hear of a premium crop 

 of grass. It seems practicable to double the present yield with- 

 out an outlay at all corresponding to the increased value of the 

 crop. Is there any good reason why a farmer should not bestow 

 as much care in selecting the proper seeds and in the after treat- 

 ment of meadows as he would in selecting or breeding and raising 

 a short-horn bull calf or a merino lamb? 



Grass should not be pastured in very early spring before the 

 ground settles and the sod becomes firm. By this early pastur- 

 ing the tops are kept closely cut off, the roots are much injured, 

 from which the grass does not recover for the whole year. To 



