FOOD FROM PASTURES 319 



succulence. Some seasons, pastures have much more succu- 

 lence than in other seasons, owing to a difference in the 

 amount of rainfall. The greater the degree of moisture in 

 the air also, the more relatively of succuhnce will the 

 pastures possess 



Excess of succulence, however, is not to be measured 

 alone by the degree of the succulence. That degree of suc- 

 culence which removes an unduly dry condition from the 

 faeces, is not excessive or harmful, but helpful. The trained 

 eye quickly detects what is correct or otherwise in such con- 

 dition. Succulence is excessive when it leads to a condition 

 of the bowels so lax as to hinder production in milk, meat or 

 labor. The degree of succulence in pastures that would be 

 best suited for milk production would be excessive for meat 

 production, and that which is best suited for meat production 

 may be excessive for the best results from labor. This ex- 

 plains in part at least why summer pastures, green and suc- 

 culent, are best suited to the needs of milch cows, and why, 

 when they become unduly dry, supplementary succulent food 

 is necessary in order to properly maintain the milk flow. It 

 explains why pastures well matured make beef much more 

 quickly than pastures less matured and more succulent. It 

 also throws light upon the necessity for feeding reasonabl" 

 dry food to horses at hard labor. 



The aim should be not to graze pastures close at any sea- 

 son of the year, for the reason, first, that when thus grazed, 

 growth is hindered by reducing too much the breathing ca- 

 pacity of the plant through the leaves, and by removing the 

 shade and protection furnished to the roots by the grass 

 blades. When this covering is removed, the sapping of 

 moisture is so far accelerated by the sun and wind. This 

 loss of moisture increases relatively with increase in dry- 

 ness of the climate. There is also loss of energy in search- 

 ing for food by animals that are being oastured in order to 

 supply their needs 



Of course, the closeness of the grazing cannot always 

 be regulated. When pasture is abundant, animals will 



