276 FORAGE CROPS. 



Open that much trouble was caused by the washing 

 of the soil through heavy rains. In depth, the sur- 

 face soil varies from, say, six inches on the high 

 ground to eighteen inches on the low ground. 

 Underneath the subsoil is chiefly gravel and sand 

 admixed. The crops, therefore, as can easily be 

 imagined, soon showed signs of languishing on the 

 higher ground when the weather became dry and hot. 



Nor was this quick-growing, though naturally 

 hungry soil in a high state of fertility. From the 

 beginning of 1891 to 1895, no manure had been 

 applied, notwithstanding that a grain crop had been 

 taken from the land every year. In 1897 a mod- 

 erate dressing of barnyard manure was applied. No 

 additional fertilizer was used during all these years, 

 save on inconsiderable portions to aid in growing 

 certain special crops. 



Character of the Weather. — During the three 

 seasons of the experiment, the weather was, on the 

 whole, favorable to the growth of these pasture 

 crops. Showers fell with a fair amount of regu- 

 larity. In some instances the moisture from the 

 same was superabundant, while at other times there 

 were intervals of several weeks between the show- 

 ers. With less favorable weather the results could 

 not have proved so satisfactory. But in justice to 

 the system it ought to be stated here, that in dry 

 seasons the results from growing sheep pastures as, 

 in this experiment would be relatively even more: 

 favorable when compared with results from grazing 

 grass pastures only, than they would be in a wet; 

 season. 



Necessity for Some Grass Pasture. — When 

 growing these crops for pasture, it will be necessary 



