MEADOWS AND PASTURES 161 



Throughout the South, Bermuda grass is the chief pas- 

 ture plant, though it is commonly mixed with Rhodes grass 

 for dry soils and with orchard grass for wet regions. 

 Red-top is successful on wet heavy soil. 



For starting a pasture on good land in northern regions, 

 a mixture may be made of something like the following 

 proportions : 



Timothy 10 pounds 



Red clover 3 " 



Alsike clover 2 " 



White clover 2 " 



Kentucky blue-grass 3 " 



Brorne-grass 2 " 



Meadow fescue 2 



Orchard grass 2 " 



This will make sufficient seed for one acre. If the pas- 

 ture is on very wet, undrained land, the red clover may 

 be omitted and red-top substituted in its stead. Even though 

 timothy will soon be driven out by blue-grass and white 

 clover, it should head the mixture as it roots more quickly 

 than the others, and acts as a cover while the slower 

 grasses are getting started. , . 



Care of pastures. If permanent pastures are to be 

 kept up to a high state of efficiency they demand even 

 more care than meadows. 



On fairly good soils, pastures do not usually require 

 manuring, though a light coat of manure will increase the 

 yield of any pasture. Nearly every pasture needs the as- 

 sistance of a mower to keep down the weeds. This is be- 

 cause stock do not find most weeds palatable, and so eat 

 the grass, leaving the weeds to flourish. Many pastures 

 are thickly sprinkled with weeds which not only rob the 

 soil but prevent cattle from eating the grass growing 



