204 AGRICULTURE 



sure to make its appearance, and gradually force most 

 other grasses out. When blue-grass and white clover have 

 taken possesion of a pasture they grow reasonably well to- 

 gether, though in some seasons one of them will predomi- 

 nate, and again the other. 



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 " 



Brome-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 crop while the sjower 

 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- 



