GENERAL FEEDING 467 



Sustaining power of pastures. The sustaining power 

 of pastures is a question of much moment to the stock- 

 man. With reference thereto it may be said: (i) That 

 it will be found to vary greatly with varying conditions; 

 (2) that under average conditions, it may usually be greatly 

 increased and (3) that the effort to increase the carrying 

 power of pastures in this country has seldom been given 

 that attention which its importance demands. 



The sustaining power of grazing lands will vary with 

 climatic and soil conditions, with the grasses that grow 

 on them, with the method of grazing and with the fertiliza- 

 tion bestowed. The sustaining power of the best grazing 

 lands of the United States and Canada has apparently not 

 been tested in a systematic way. It has been estimated that 

 from 10 to 30 acres of land comprised in the western ranges 

 are required to graze a mature cattle beast through all 

 the season, practically through all the year. In striking 

 contrast is the statement of Sir J. B. Lawes, to the effect 

 that in a certain pasture in Leicestershire, England, which 

 comprised 14 acres, 17 oxen were grazed throughout the 

 entire season and that from 500 to 600 pounds of increase 

 was secured from each acre. The averge fertility of the 

 range lands referred to is probably greater than that of the 

 Leicestershire grazing lands, the difference in the outcome 

 being caused mainly by lack of rainfall. In support of this 

 statement it may be mentioned, that Prof R. S. Shaw se- 

 cured 904.8 pounds of increase per acre in one season at the 

 Montana experiment station, from grazing young cattle on 

 alsike clover pasture subject to irrigation. 



A mixture of grasses will usually produce the largest 

 amount of pasture, since these grow more or less at dif- 

 ferent seasons and they usually occupy the ground more 

 fully than one variety. Such pastures, however, should be 

 permanent in character, and they should only be made on 

 soils good and naturally moist, and in localities favored 

 with occasional rains during the period of growth, because 

 of the expense and time required to secure them. 



