GRASSES 199 



other species and without care establishes and maintains a dense 

 sod almost indefinitely. Blue grass crowds in where red clover 

 has been grown and, if left unmolested, takes possession of the 

 land. In this respect it sometimes becomes a pest. Indeed, 

 the worst weed in the alfalfa fields of the blue-grass region is 

 this grass. While all that has been said regarding the ability of 

 blue grass to take care of itself is true, yet it responds to good 

 treatment almost as readily and fully as any other farm crop. 



FIG. 94. Gathering grass seed by machinery 



In early farming, blue-grass and redtop seed were always gathered by hand. Such 

 machines as are here shown have recently come into use for gathering seed 



250. Blue-grass pasture management. To graze a pasture 

 too early or with too much stock is hurtful to the pasture and 

 is not good for stock. A pasture should be grazed in modera- 

 tion in the spring and early summer when the plants are making 

 their growth and storing food in their underground rootstocks. 

 After the time of seed production (Fig. 94) it- is not injurious to 

 the stand to pasture quite closely until the second rapid growth 

 period, which is immediately following the late summer rains. 

 To crop grass closely when it is making the second growth is 

 almost as hurtful as to overgraze it in early spring and for the 

 same reason. The food stored in the rootstocks by the first 



