206 AGRICULTURE 



grass seed should be scattered on thin places or a desirable 

 new variety added to the plants already established. 



After being grazed, pastures grow better if they have 

 a rest during the wet season from trampling and crop- 

 ping. It is therefore best to have two pastures, using them 

 alternately, instead of feeding the one continuously through- 

 out the season. Such an arrangement usually requires only 

 the expense of a partition fence, which the increased yield 

 and comfort to animals from the pasture will well repay. 



TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION 



1. What is the age of the different pastures on your 

 father's farm? What is the predominating grass? What 

 other grasses are in the mixture ? 



2. Is there a pasture near by consisting of both upland 

 and marsh land? If so, which is the more closely cropped? 

 Secure samples of the grass from each part; what grass 

 predominates in each case ? Would it not pay to drain the 

 wet portion ? 



3. Make a study of the pastures represented at the 

 school for the weeds growing in them. What proportion 

 of the pastures may be called weedy ? What weeds predom- 

 inate ? Are they ever mowed ? 



4. How many of the farmers in your vicinity follow 

 the plan of dividing their pasture, so that the one part may 

 rest while the other is being used? If this is not done at 

 your home, figure the cost of running a division fence so 

 that it would be possible. Talk with your father about the 

 cost of the fence. 



5. Are any of the pastures in your region ever disked 

 to loosen the sod? Is new seed ever sown on them? Do 

 you think any of them are sod-bound ? How can you tell ? 



6. What is the cost per rod of laying field tile in your 

 vicinity? Investigate any wet areas on your home pasture 

 where the grass is rejected by the stock, and determine how 

 many rods of drainage would be required to make the soil 

 tillable. Suppose draining would double the feeding value 

 of such an area, would the drain pay good interest on its 

 cost ? Figure this all out and talk with your father about it. 



