CHAPTER XVII 



Pastures for Grazing Farm Animals 



About one-third of the improved land in the 

 United States is used for pasturage purposes. In 

 other words, about 300,000,000 acres are devoted to 

 the growing of grasses in the cultivated area. This 

 does not take into account the millions of acres on 

 the range. It is a pretty safe conclusion that very 

 little of this land is yielding what it really ought to. 

 Pasture improvement has been neglected. The 

 selection of grass seeds has never been given very 

 much attention. This comes about largely from the 

 fact that the real value of the pasture is not recog- 

 nized by very many people. Grass furnishes the 

 cheapest and best feed for developing young 

 animals, and it is most satisfactory for maintaining 

 breeding stock. It is an exceedingly valuable ad- 

 junct during the fattening period. It costs nothing 

 to raise grasses when pasture is once started. The 

 crop requires no particular attention, so that it is 

 surprising that this problem has never been more 

 thoroughly studied. 



In England the value of good pasture is recog- 

 nized. An English farmer being asked how to secure 

 a good turf, said : " Oh, that is easy. Prepare 

 your ground well, be careful in selecting your seed 

 mixture and then roll each spring for 300 years and 

 you will get a good turf." Some of the best pas- 

 tures in England are hundreds and hundreds of 

 years old. 



The idea of permanent pasture is growing in this 

 country. A quarter of a century ago very few 



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