PASTURE CULTURE 41 



pasture strains of the above-named species will soon be available for general use. 

 However, a word of caution needs to be sounded regarding the use of these new 

 and improved strains of both grasses and legumes. Important though they may 

 be, they are no substitute for soil fertility and, to a considerable extent, will 

 accentuate rather than reduce the need for controlled grazing. This is a condition 

 which plant breeders and farmers alike should not overlook. 



Pasture Seeding Mixture 



Little can be said concerning the matter of seed mixtures until many of the 

 newer pasture strains have been given wider testing. A few conclusions, however, 

 do appear justified. It is generally conceded that a suitable combination of 

 grasses and legumes appears to be desirable from the standpoint of maintaining 

 not only high levels of production but also high feeding values. A number of 

 species which have regularly been included in pasture mixtures since mixtures 

 were first used in Massachusetts, are likely to be eliminated in the future. For 

 example, it seems unnecessary to include the seed of Kentucky bluegrass and 

 white clover in a pasture seeding mixture when these species will come in volun- 

 tarily and dominate the vegetation in a few years whether they are seeded or not. 

 Red top is another grass which will probably be used less extensively. The 

 growth habits of this grass appear to be incompatible with those of some of our 

 better pasture species. It does not grow well with Ladino clover and when 

 associated with alfalfa, excessive lodging frequently results. To include red top 

 with a seeding of either Ladino clover or alfalfa appears to be unwise. 



The whole question of pasture seeding mixtures is one which is now being 

 carefully studied and investigated and it is probable that still more important 

 changes will be made. 



The Climate 



Weather is perhaps the most important factor affecting the productivity and 

 usefulness of a pasture but since nothing can be done to control it directly, it 

 has been considered last. Temperature and rainfall are closely associated not 

 only with seasonal production of pastures, but with total production as well. 

 In wet seasons, herbage yields rise to high levels and in dry seasons they fall to 

 low levels. There are several ways, however, of indirectly ameliorating the 

 unfavorable influence of the weather. 



One important means is the maintenance of high soil fertility levels. Fertile 

 soils in good tilth with a dense, rich vegetative cover are much less affected by 

 adverse weather conditions than are depleted soils with hard, baked surfaces 

 which will support only a scanty plant cover. "It is a rule that admits of no 

 dispute," wrote J. E. Russell almost sixty years ago, "that well-manured lands 

 best withstand drouth. "1^2 



A second means is the use of desirable pasture plants which are heat and drought 

 tolerant, are cold resistant, and are productive even though seasonal weather 

 conditions are somewhat unfavorable. In 1853 J. C. Gray wrote "As no human 

 power can change our climate, and as there seems no prospect of any amelioration 

 of its severe winters or its parching droughts, it is an obvious dictate of common 

 sense, to select such plants for cultivation, whether annual or perennial, as can 

 best resist its fierce extremes." i*^ 



If, after careful attention has been given to the soil and plant factors, further 

 consideration is given to a well-conceived farm management program, the prob- 



^^^Mass. State Bd. Agric. 30th Annual Report (1882), p. 10. 

 l^^ibid., 1st Annual Report (1853), Pt. I. p. 162. 



