Pasture Crops 299 



the producing power of those with leaves only two or three 

 inches long. It is more profitable to feed animals than 

 to so overstock the pastures that their growth is retarded. 

 A better practice is to divide single large pastures into two 

 or more, and graze one at a time. 



Fig. 190. Pasture on left grazed so closely that the value of the crop is greatly 



reduced. On right not grazed enough to secure full advantage of the crop. 



Courtesy Dr. David Griffith, United States Department of Agriculture. 



427. Weeds in Pastures. Pasture lands are sometimes 

 infested with weeds, plants that stock will not eat. 

 Annual weeds may often be destroyed or reduced by 

 mowing while they are in flower, or before their seeds 

 are ripe. Perennial weeds are more difficult to eradicate 

 and the habits of each species must be studied. A few 

 sheep and goats are often desirable in pastures because 

 they prefer the leaves of weeds and bushes to the regular 

 pasture plants, and thus turn the objectionable weeds into 

 a profit while destroying them. (If 306). 



