GRASSES 115 



much the same value as alfalfa hay. The seed is very rich in 

 protein and is valuable for balancing starchy rations. 



GRASSES 



From an agricultural viewpoint, grasses may be considered 

 as belonging to two groups, pasture grasses and meadow 

 grasses. Either of these grasses may be used for pasture or 

 may be cut and used for hay. 



Pasture grasses. This group includes our various native 

 grasses. The best known is Kentucky blue grass. On the 

 Western Plains there is a mixture of several kinds of native 

 wild grasses, called prairie grass. Near the sea shore level 

 areas are covered with several kinds of wild grasses col- 

 lectively known as salt or marsh grass. On the Pacific slope 

 various grasses, such as wild oats, furnish good pasture during 

 the latter part of the rainy season and for some time after- 

 ward. Among the mountains occur level stretches, known 

 as mountain meadows, that are covered with many kinds of 

 grasses useful for pasturage. In all these sections native 

 grasses provide valuable pasturage on land not under culti- 

 vation. 



Pastures are of two kinds, permanent and temporary. 

 Those parts of a farm that cannot be cultivated with profit, 

 such as hill land, may become permanent pastures. In this 

 way unused or waste land becomes productive. In the case 

 of slopes and hillsides, the sod also serves as a protection 

 against soil loss through erosion. 



Temporary pastures are those grown in rotation with 

 other crops. They are often a mixture of grasses and legumes 

 and remain from one to three years, according to the system 

 of rotation employed. 



