278 



FORAGE CROPS 







fresh and green, so as to keep in this state, it is called 

 silaye. 



204. Pasture. Much of our land is not farmed, because 

 it is too hilly, too wet, or too rough to cultivate. Such 

 lands, nevertheless, may be used for pasturage and may 

 provide a cheap means of maintaining animals. Wet 

 pasture lands are known as meadows. Meadows usually 

 require little attention. In most districts they will pro- 

 duce two crops of hay 

 each season, or they 

 should provide a perma- 

 nent pasture through- 

 out the summer. It is 

 necessary to fence them 

 if they are to be used as 

 a permanent pasture. 

 In the meadow we often 

 find a fine quality of 

 grass nourished by un- 

 failing springs or 

 creeks. The abun- 

 dance of accessible water 



RED TOP. witn rapidly growing 



and nourishing grasses 



makes meadows well-nigh ideal pasture grounds. In time, 

 however, such pastures may be cut up badly in wet places 

 by the cattle, and the nourishing grasses may be displaced 

 by coarser varieties or weeds. It is then a good practice, 

 when the soil is in proper condition, to plow and fertilize 

 the meadow and start a new pasturage. 



It is often possible to reenforce the regular pastures 

 from other sources. Thus, after a crop has been har- 

 vested, the field may sometimes profitably be thrown open 

 for the cattle to glean what has been left along the fences. 



