12 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 380 



Hampshire, and of other parts cf Massachusetts."^^ Governor Hutchinson 

 of the Province of Massachusetts observed in 1760, that white clover seed was 

 supposed to be in the earth in all parts of the country. Richard Parkinson in 

 1807 wrote that "The uncultivated land in North America also abounds with 

 White Clover. The earth indeed seems almost to have been impregnated with 

 its seed from the Creation as any kind of land when manured will produce it . . . "^^ 

 In view of the recent popularity of imported "Wild" White Clover strains 

 from England, it is interesting to note that similar strains, probably the pro- 

 genitors of the present English strains, were introduced into Massachusetts from 

 England some three hundred years ago. Since our own "native" or "naturalized" 

 white clovers have originated from the same original stock seed as the present 

 English strains, many of the "native" strains should be quite similar in their 

 growth characteristics as well as their performance to the present English strains. 



Other Naturalized Species 



Other pasture species which became quickly naturalized included Kentucky 

 blue grass, Canada blue grass, the bent grasses, and to a certain extent some of 

 the fescues. These grasses were somewhat more dependent on artificial seeding 

 than white clover, but when once established they persisted almost indefinitely, 

 particularly if soil conditions and grazing management practices were favorable. 

 Belknap, in describing the clearing of new land in New Hampshire, states that 

 "When the seeding with grass is neglected the ground becomes mossy and hard 

 and must be ploughed before it will receive seed. . . . land which is intended 

 for mowing, and which takes the common grass well at first, is seldom or never 

 ploughed afterward. "^^ 



Ptisturing in Common 



Throughout the first settlements in Massachusetts, an extensive system of 

 common pasturage was followed. Throughout the seventeenth century and 

 much of the eighteenth, cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and goats ranged the woods 

 in every direction from the town proper, sometimes at large and sometimes in 

 the care of village herdsmen.^s These undivided pasture areas included the 

 partially cleared plains and uncleared hills and mountain sides, frequently ex- 

 tending as far as twenty miles from the settlement itself. Dry stock, young stock, 

 and hogs were pastured on the more remote areas, while working oxen, horses, 

 and milk cows were pastured on the more accessible lands close to the village. 



This woods pasturage, which consisted primarily of native herbs, weeds, and 

 grasses, supplied most of the forage for all types of livestock with the exception 

 of some aftermath or rowen grazing on common meadowlands. Bidwell and 

 Falconer relate that "In the fall after harvest, on a day fixed by the town authori- 

 ties, the barriers were taken down and the village cattle were allowed to pasture 

 on the stubbie. This yearly 'opening of the meadows' was an event in the life 

 of the vinage."^^ They also report that such pasturage was regarded as especially 

 valuable in preparing animals for the long winter and that pasturing rights on 

 such areas were jealously guarded. Since many of the meadowlands were seeded 

 down to "English grass," this would indicate that the superior feeding value of 

 these introduced species was early recognized. Some of these meadowlands were 



S^Hadley, p. 363. 



36Richard Parkinson. The Experienced Farmer (London, 1807), p. 63. 

 3TThe History of New Hampshire (Boston. 1792), III. 100. 

 38judd. Hadley, p. 102. 



39p. W. Bidwell and J. I. Falconer, History of Agriculture in the Northern United States 1620-1860 

 (Washington. 1925), p. 22. 



