184 THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE 



sown where not enough plants are present, and 

 also to discover what kinds of plants are most 

 promising, so that the supplementary seeds may 

 be chosen to best suit the conditions. Coax the 

 grass to grow by shading the imperfectly cov- 

 ered knolls with refuse material, such as is 

 always found about a farmstead. Even a light 

 covering of brush or maize stalks may be used 

 to partly shade the ground, and to conserve 

 moisture. If a small ration of grain be fed the 

 animals which graze the pasture, the field will 

 tend to become more productive instead of less 

 productive. 



315. It will require several years of watchful 

 care, new seed, possibly harrowing and rolling, 

 some added plant- food and a light dressing of 

 lime, and the timely destruction of large, un- 

 palatable weeds, to secure a really good, perma- 

 nent pasture. The eye of the husbandman 

 makes the grass thrive. 



316. In the pastures the grass is kept short ; 

 therefore the entire surface should be covered. 

 If areas of even a few square inches are bare, 

 needless evaporation takes place. If the grasses 

 are kept too short, the rays of the sun will take 

 up much soil moisture which should have been 

 taken up by the plants, since the soil will not 

 be well shaded. If the plants are allowed to 

 grow tall and produce seed, then they are 



