CHAPTER XIV 



GROWING HAY AND PASTURE CROPS IN DRY 



AREAS 



The hay crop in dry areas is obtained from three 

 sources. These are legumes, the grasses proper and cer- 

 tain of the grain crops. Of these the most important 

 source by far is the legumes which have been discussed 

 in chapter XIII. The cultivated grasses which will fur- 

 nish hay in dry areas are not numerous. Of these the 

 three that are most important are timothy, western rye 

 grass and brome grass. Hay from grains is relatively 

 far more important in dry areas than in those that are 

 humid. 



In many sections of the dry country, pastures are 

 obtainable from rugged lands that never can be tilled, 

 and yet they are in close proximity to arable farms. The 

 owners of arable farms who can utilize such pastures are 

 fortunate, as they are in proximity to cheap pastures 

 furnished by nature from rugged lands that never can be 

 tilled. In many instances, however, the tillable areas 

 are not in proximity to such lands, hence, the necessity 

 for obtaining pastures from other sources. The pasture 

 problem in dry areas is confessedly difficult. This is 

 owing to the fact that the grasses grown cannot usually 

 be cultivated during the period of growth, as the grains 

 are cultivated, hence the conservation of moisture in 

 growing of grasses is difficult. The chief cultivated 

 grasses grown for pastures in dry areas are virtually the 

 same as those grown for hay, but for pasture they are 

 more frequently grown in combination than for hay. 

 The growing of pasture is the most difficult problem that 

 confronts the farmer in dry areas. 



Growing timothy. While timothy is the best grass 

 for furnishing hay for horses that has yet been introduced 



