468 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



The method of grazing exercises a most important in- 

 fluence on the production of pastures. This is particularly 

 true of pastures essentially composed of blue grass. In 

 practice they are usually eaten too bare. When not cropped 

 too closely, the covering of grass tends to- shield the ground 

 from the evaporating rays of the sun in summer, and from 

 the severe freezing of the roots in winter. By prudent 

 grazing, the sustaining power of pastures may certainly be 

 considerably increased, but the author has not been able 

 to find figures bearing on such increase. 



Nor can data be found based on American experience 

 to show the increase that may be obtained in pastures from 

 suitable fertilization. Reasoning from analogy, however, 

 it would seem correct to assume that the fertilization of 

 pastures would increase production relatively as much as it 

 increases the production of meadows in the same locality 

 similarly treated. In many instances, the production of 

 New England meadows has been increased two-and three- 

 fold, by dressing them annually with compost, farmyard 

 manure or commercial fertilizers, or with two of these or 

 all three combined. 



The prevailing pasture on arable farms in the northern 

 and central states is blue grass, in the southern states, 

 Bermuda grass, and in the Canadian Northwest, Russian 

 brome. The claim has been made for all these, that in some 

 instances one acre has been found capable of sustaining a 

 cattle beast between the ages of one and three years dur- 

 ing the period of grazing, that is for, say six months. This 

 would mean that one acre of such grass would furnish 

 from 300 to 400 pounds of increase. Usually, however, 

 it would seem correct to say, that from two to three acres 

 are required to carry one such animal through the season. 

 One average acre of well-grown rape will produce from 

 200 to 250 pounds of mutton. One acre of irrigated alfalfa 

 with a suitable grain supplement will make from say 600 to 

 900 pounds of pork in a single season, to be credited to 

 the alfalfa. 



