48 ExPERiMKNT Station Bulletin 363 



Difficulties in management have been encountered because of the 

 fact that in no case were the plots larger than an acre, too small in fact 

 to fence and pasture separately. In two cases, the grasses have been 

 grouped or divided, two or three in each area but this method has not 

 permitted the best management because of the difference in time of 

 maturity. In one case the cows were turned into an area of timothy, 

 orchard, and reed canary grass at a time when both timothy and reed 

 canary were at the correct stage for pasture; but the orchard grass was 

 too far along and was not eaten by the animals. 



Areas large enough to serve as pasture units are being seeded to sirn- 

 ple mixtures in 1945, i.e. one grass wkh Ladino clover. This will permit 

 proper management of each area. Such a method \v\\\ have the disad- 

 vantage of involving wide soil variations, but probably will be more use- 

 ful in noting the competitive effects of each of these grasses on Ladino. 

 Furthermore, it will permit the keeping of milk production records for 

 the various areas. Competition between some of the finer grasses such as 

 red top and Kentucky blue grass will be eliminated, except as they vol- 

 unteer into the stand. 



The investigation has two major obiect'ves, the answers to the fol- 

 lowing questions: Are any of the grasses more productive than others 

 during the midsummer or short pasture season? Do the grasses offer too 

 much competition for Ladino clover? A good stand of Ladino or a La^ 

 dino mixture is more productive in July and August than a stand of any 

 one of the grasses during that period. 'Moreover, Ladino clover is higher 

 in protein and minerals and perhaps more nearly represents the ideal 

 forage for high-producing dairy cows. Interest in the grasses centers 

 around these points: first, a mixture usually gives a higher total yield 

 than Ladino alone; second, grass adds some variety to the diet of the ani- 

 mal; third, grasses start growth earlier in the spring than Ladino, hence, 

 thev furnish the earlv bite; fourth, grasses are not so susceptible to win- 

 ter killing; fifth, the association with grasses affords some protection from 

 winterkilling the Ladino clover. 



Of the grasses under study, orchard grass is, undoubtedly, the earliest 

 for pasturing. It is followed' closely by smooth brome, with the others 

 coming along at about the same time.' In July, orchard grass, smooth 

 brome" grass and reed canary are more productive than the others, while, 

 in the fall, tall fescue appears to make the most growth. This is followed 

 closely by reed canary grass. These two grasses on wet land would un- 

 doubtedly be reversed in respect to fall growth as reed canary appears to 

 be particularly adapted to wet areas. Drainage and fertility have a tend- 

 ency to cause variations in respect to seasonal growth. 



The palatability of these grasses ranks as follows, in descending or- 

 der: smooth brome, timothy, perennial rye, reed canary, orchard grass 

 and tall fescue. There is some doubt as to whether or not tall fescue, be- 

 cause of its harshness which is closely associated with palatability, has a 

 place in pasture improvement. Farmers generally agree that smooth 

 brome ranks high in palatability, possibly higher than all the rest. 



According to results in 1943 and those of one pasture in 1944, there 



