CHAPTER VI. 



CULTURE OF GRASSES AND OTHER PLANTS REC- 

 OMMENDED FOR FODDER. 



As already stated, the grasses in summer, and hay in 

 winter, form the most natural and important food for 

 milch cows ; and, whatever other crops come in as ad- 

 ditional, these will form the basis of all systems of 

 feeding. 



The nutritive qualities of the grasses differ widely ; 

 and their value as feed for cows will depend, to a con- 

 siderable extent, on the management of pastures and 

 mowing-lands. 



If the turf of an old pasture is carefully examined, it 

 will be found to contain a large variety of grasses and 

 plants adapted for forage ; some of them valuable for 

 one purpose, and some for another. Some of them, 

 though possessing a lower percentage of nutritive 

 constituents than others, are particularly esteemed for 

 an early and luxuriant growth, furnishing a sweet feed 

 in early spring, before other grasses appear ; some of 

 them, for starting more rapidly than others, after being 

 eaten off by cattle, and consequently of great value as 

 pasture grasses. Most grasses will be found to be of a 

 social character, and to do best in a large mixture with 

 other varieties. 



In forming a mixture for pasture grasses, the pecu- 

 liarities of each species should, therefore, be regarded : 

 15 



