THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



rainy periods when it is not possible to use the teams on arable 

 land, while the harrowing is most effectively done at such times. 



4. Pastures may also in some 

 cases be improved by clipping 

 with the mowing-machine where 

 weeds are likely to go to seed 

 or where from want of sufficient 

 pasturage the grasses become 

 woody and unpalatable. Clip- 

 ping, however, is likely to re- 

 duce the amount of pasturage 

 for the time being, and where 

 pasture is scarce may not be 

 advisable. 



II. PRODUCTION AND HARVESTING 



34. Distribution and Adapta- 

 tion. So far as the cultivated 

 grasses have yet been extensive- 

 ly introduced, they have been 

 found best adapted to that por- 

 tion of the United States east 

 of the Missouri River and north 



of the cotton states. While there are certain exceptions where 

 limestone soils exist such as in central Kentucky in general, 

 grasses increase in adaptability as one proceeds northward and 

 eastward in the United States. Not only are the North Atlantic 

 states well adapted to the production of grasses, but they are less 

 adapted to the production of cereal crops. The result is that the 

 proportion of the total farm area in grasses is much higher in 

 .these states than elsewhere, except in those Rocky Mountain 

 states where range conditions still exist. It has been fairly well 

 demonstrated that to the cotton states and the sub-humid High 

 Plains area, timothy, blue grass, redtop, and orchard grass are 



Chain harrow used in England for 

 improving pastures 



