326 FORAGE CROPS 



the grasses, which is so common on neglected 

 pasture. 



Weeds and brambles which are not consumed 

 by stock should be removed each year, preferably 

 in August, at which season the destruction of the 

 plant is likely to result. Systematic management 

 and treatment of pastures will result in many in- 

 stances in increasing the yield more than two-fold ; 

 this should be a part of the practice of every far- 

 mer. On rough lands, where it is not possible to 

 plow and prepare the soil and where grasses come 

 in naturally, the permanency of the pastures may 

 be increased, and the quality improved, simply by 

 dressing with commercial fertilizers, using mainly 

 ground bone, acid phosphate and muriate of pot- 

 ash, and liming once in about four years. Many 

 hill pastures, that furnish scanty herbage, may be 

 very quickly improved by this method, and the 

 yield of forage very largely increased. In these 

 cases, the soil is frequently dry and poor, and it 

 requires only that the minerals should be applied, 

 in order that the plants may develop more rapidly, 

 and continue for a longer time. 



Renewing old pastures 



Old pastures that have become sod-bound and 

 mossy may be greatly improved l^y scarifying with 

 any suitable tool ; a spike-tooth harrow will answer 



