FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



Quack grass is in a sense a scourge to the farmers, 

 especially those whose lands, naturally rich and friable, are 

 infested by it, owing to the great labor involved in cleaning 

 it out of the land. Notwithstanding, when properly man- 

 aged, it will probably furnish more grazing during the sea- 

 son than any other grass grown in the locality. In semi- 

 arid regions this grass may have a useful mission. It mul- 

 tiplies chiefly by means of the creeping rootstocks which it 

 sends out in great numbers in the soil. 



Johnson grass, which grows luxuriantly in the south- 

 ern states, cannot endure the cold winters of the North. 

 When grazed it should be eaten down before the heads are 

 formed. Heavy pasturing Has the effect of injuring sub- 

 sequent growth for a time. It is a better hay than a pas- 

 ture crop. It is exceedingly difficult of eradication. 



Crab grass is an annual which infests southern soils. 

 It springs up luxuriantly in grain fields from which crops 

 have been removed. The grazing which it thus furnishes 

 is frequently considerable. This weed-like grass may be 

 grown, it is said, in alternation with bur clover, the former 

 furnishing grazing in winter and the latter in summer. The 

 ground is simply plowed and harrowed between the crops, 

 where both have obtained a foothold. 



The leading clovers. The leading clovers for pasture 

 are the Common or Medium Red (Trifolium pratense), the 

 Mammoth (Trifolium maximum'], the Alsike (Trifolium 

 hybridum), the White (Trifolium repens) and Alfalfa 

 (Medicago sativa). These are probably valuable for pas- 

 ture in the order named. 



Common Red clover, is now grown in portions of 

 almost every state in the Union. The great clover belt, 

 however, is in the Upper Mississippi valley, and in the 

 higher mountain states that lie to the west. This plant, 

 biennial or perennial according to the soil and climatic 

 conditions under which it is produced, grows during nearly 

 the entire growing season. The growth is more vigorous 

 and persistent when the plants are not allowed to go to 



