No. 1.J IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURES. 427 



once or twice too often, thus lengthening the period during 

 which maintenance rations must be fed, thereby absorbing 

 all or more than all of the apparent profits of pastures. 

 This view might be set forth b}^ mathematical calculations, 

 yet so many problems are involved that the question may 

 perhaps as well be left for reflection, and to the general 

 knowledge that the old system of wintering stock without 

 growth, or on mere maintenance rations, for the good growth 

 then cheaply made on pastures, is giving way before the 

 fact that our poor pastures no longer compensate for poor 

 barn feeding, and the further fact of no net returns per acre 

 of pasture, nor none from the old system of summer and 

 winter feeding, where the old type of winter feeding for 

 pasture fattening prevails. 



It is said that a Lancastershire English pasture will make 

 500 pounds of growth in a season per acre. Here it will 

 take ten-fold this area on the average pasture. We cannot 

 afford to farm on this level, with large areas of our holdings 

 practically idle. Pasture lands must be put to work, and 

 to good work. Where this is done, there will come with it 



a o-reat widenino- of our business. 



o o 



How CAN IT BE DONE? 



The common advice to cut the bushes and weeds is correct 

 so far as it goes, but it only treats the effect of the disease, 

 and not its cause. At best, the process can only enlarge 

 the area of poor soil that is available, and let the sun in on 

 the shaded o-rass to sweeten it. This work of restrictino- 

 pastures to grass, as against bushes and weeds, must be done 

 as an initial step. When the soil is handled for grass, and 

 the bushes cut a few times in August and the weeds kept 

 back, grass will gain a hold and retain it. The persistent 

 recommendation to seed pastures anew and Avork the seed in 

 is a temporizing expedient. Seed is not fertility, nor can it 

 replace it, and, though successfull}^ started, will not long 

 hold the soil, as against the grass to which the soil has 

 become adapted for reasons alread}' noted. The thoughtless 

 advice to burn over the pasture in the fall and spring fails 

 to note the burning of the nitrogen compounds and the 



