88 IMPROVEMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF FARM PASTURES 



sarily the first to resume growth, withstand early grazing much 

 better than do bunchgrasses. Accordingly, the former are less 

 fluctuating in their yield from year to year than are other forms. 



Certain conditions of environment favor the production of a 

 large amount of forage of good quality, A fertile soil, ample 

 moisture, and favorable temperatures are essential to large 

 forage production. Alluvial soils are highly esteemed as pasture 

 land. Certain forage species are much more susceptible to low 

 temperatures or frosts than are others, and their palatability 

 and nutritiousness may change appreciably as the season ad- 

 vances. It is important that a pasture plant shall remain 

 palatable and nutritious after growth has ceased. 



Blinds of Pasture. — Pastures are classified as annual, 

 temporary, or permanent, according to the nature of the plant 

 cover and the use made of the lands. 



An annual pasture supports vegetation that endures for but 

 one season and is designed to carry stock for such a period only. 

 Annual forage crops are almost invariably cropped before the 

 seed matures. They may furnish feed throughout the growing 

 season or for only a part of it. 



A temporary pasture may be sown to annual or short-lived 

 perennial plants. It is used as pasture for more than one season 

 but seldom for several years in succession. 



A permanent pasture supports perennial vegetation, which, 

 with a favorable environment, is used for foraging purposes for 

 many years in succession. Sodgrasses are the most desirable, 

 as a good turf does not permit weeds to gain much headway. 

 The forage yield of sodgrasses is usually heavy, and in the humid 

 regions such a cover is not readily injured by early or close graz- 

 ing. Moreover, because of the mass of ramifying roots, a large 

 proportion of which each year enters into the formation of 

 humus, the fertility of the soil is fairly well maintained. Ken- 

 tucky bluegrass, redtop, and Hungarian bromegrass are good 

 examples of a desirable permanent sod cover. Less enduring 

 are pastures of timothy, orchardgrass, and red clover. 



Why Pastures " Run Out." — Farmers from all sections of 

 the country are asking why pastures deteriorate. The answer 



