COMPOSITION OF PASTURE GRASS 3 



fair measure of nutritive value in grass; the first two mentioned, from the stand- 

 point of organic nutrients, the last two from the standpoint of mineral nutrients. 

 Detai4ed results are shown in the appendix. 



The dominant grasses in these pastures were Kentucky bluegrass {Poa praten- 

 sii), red top {Agrostis alba), and sweet vernal grass {Anthoxanlhum odoratum). 

 Prevalent weeds were bluets {Houslonia coerulea), cinquefoil {Potentilla spp.), 

 dandelions {Taraxacum spp.), buttercups {Ranunculus spp.), everlasting {Anten- 

 naria plantaginifolia) , Canada thistle {Carduus arvensis), yarrow {Achillea mille- 

 folium), sorrel {Runiex acetosa), and wild aster {Aster spp) Moss was present in 

 most cases, and such shrubs as hardhack {Spiraea tomentosa) , sweet fern {Comp- 

 tonia asplenifolia), blueberry {Vaccinium^ spp.), and brushy cinquefoil {PoteulUla 

 spp.) were abundant. 



Interpretation and Discussion 



A comparison of the average of these samples with values given by several other 

 investigators shows that they measured up quite well so far as protein and mini- 

 mum fiber content were concerned. They were fairly well supplied with calcium, 

 some samples being quite high in that element, but for the most part they were low 

 in phosphoriiB. In general, moisture, protein and phosphorus were higher in the 

 spring, while crude fiber and calcium were higher in the autumn. 



In comparing the samples from different soil types a few words of e.xplanation 

 as to the location and nature of the several types seems necessary. 



The Gloucester series of soils is the dominant type in Worcester County and in 

 the highlands east of the Connecticut River. The pasture soils of this series are 

 for the most part stony fine sandy loam, glacial in origin, and usually well drained. 

 In sonie places the drainage is excessive, and the series in general has a rather low 

 moisture-holding capacity, so that pastures are susceptible to drought. 



The Becket series is characteristic of the eastern highlands of Berkshire County, 

 occurring mostly on the flattened ridges which are renmants of an old plateau. The 

 soils are derived from glacial drift, and the texture is for the most part that of a 

 loam. The moisture-holding capacity is good, due to the compactness of the sub- 

 stratum. 



The Stockbridge series occurs in the western part of Berkshire County in the 

 foothills of the Taconic mountains and is one of the most extensive and important 

 in the county. The type is usually a heavy loam, derived from the weathering of 

 limestone and slate. According to Latimer, crops on these soils "rarely suffer 

 either from drought or excessive moisture." 



The Colrain series of soils is confined almost entirely in this state to the foot- 

 hills region of Franklin County west of the Coimecticut River, largely in the 

 towns of Colrain, Shelburne, and Conway, and extending northward into eastern 

 Vermont. The typical soil is a fine sandy loam which has been considerably in- 

 fluenced by the weathering of limestone bowlders. The subsoils lack compactness 

 and crops suffer in a dry season. 



The miscellaneous types represented include two samples each from Berkshire 

 stony loam, Blandford loam, Brookfield loam, Hinckley gravelly loam, and 

 Worthington loam, and one saniple each from Peru loam and Woodbridge stony 

 loam. With the exception of the two samples from Brookfield loam and one from 

 Hinckley gravelly loam, all the miscellaneous samples came from the western 

 highlands of Hampshire County. 



