

MIDSUMMER FORAGE CROPS. 13 



The successful dairyman will carefully provide in advance for the feed 

 supply during every month of the year. Too frequently provision is made 

 only for the winter months. The severest test sometimes comes in mid- 

 summer rather than in midwinter, when the tendency appears to be to 

 trust to chance and let the dairy cow take the season's feed supply as it 

 comes. The milk supply of the average creamery falls off more rapidly 

 on pasture in "dog days" than in midwinter. Milk yield lost by the herd 

 at any season of the year can never be fully regained. The entire sub- 

 sequent yield during any period of lactation will be mainly governed by 

 the extent of the decline during an unfavorable period. The dairy cow 

 and likewise the dairy herd that makes the best yield must have no ad- 

 verse periods at any time. It is the evenly sustained yield rather than 

 the sudden spurt that determines the year's total. The best record made 

 by any cow in the college dairy herd last year, age and all things considered, 

 was that of a four year old. Her yield of butter during the first three 

 months, beginning April 1st, was 146 pounds, during the second three 

 months 109 pounds > during the third, 10.1 pounds, and during the last 

 three months, 93 pounds, making a total of 448 pounds in twelve months. 

 To have allowed this cow through neglect or insufficient feed to decline 

 30 or 40 pounds during July and August, would have caused irreparable 

 loss and probably cut the year's record short 100 pounds. Instead of that, 

 she was provided with green forage crops and given a moderate grain ration 

 and made a net profit of $77.41. 



The first step in providing the summer's feed supply should be to 

 strengthen the pasture. The way to have grass is to let it grow. The 

 pasture should never be bare. A rich carpeting of grass conserves moist- 

 ure in mid-summer and protects vitality of the plant in winter. It insures 

 a constant and economical feed supply. It furnishes the basis of the best 

 and most economical ration obtainable. Properly supplemented with 

 green forage crops fed in a cool dark stable during the day from July 15th 

 to September 15th, giving the cows the run of the pasture only at night, 

 pasture grass furnishes the cheapest and best dairy ration the farm affords. 



The problem, as our lands become more valuable, will be not how 

 to do with less grass, but how to get more of it. Pasture lands may become 

 worn out or more properly what is termed "run out," quite as readily and 

 completely as tillable lands. No part of the farm will yield better returns 

 for careful attention and good treatment than the pasture. Some simple 

 experiments conducted in the Iowa College farm pastures have furnished 

 striking results in favor of pasture culture. The application of ten quarts 

 of clover seed per acre, disced and harrowed into blue grass pasture in 

 the early spring increased the yield 65 per cent, over pastures immediately 

 adjoining that receiving no treatment. Pasture land thus treated pro- 

 duces a heavier, denser growth, and better variety of grasses, and stands 

 drouth better and the Improvement extends over several seasons. This 

 treatment should be alternated with top dressing, applied preferably during 



