CHAPTER 18 



Meadows and Pastures 



Success with livestock is conditioned on the production of good grass. 

 This may be in the form of meadows or pastures, but a combination of the 

 two is generally desirable. In latitudes of long winters the importance of 

 meadows may predominate, whereas in regions of short winters, pastures 

 may be the more important. With minor exceptions, meadows and 

 pastures are the most economical source of the farm income. 



As a rule, the highest type of general agriculture includes the rearing 

 of farm animals. They may be considered machines for the manufacturing 

 of the roughage produced on the farm into more concentrated and valuable 

 products, such as meat, milk, butter, wool, etc. These require more skill 

 on the part of the farmer and give to him continuous employment. 



Extent, Value and Importance. — It is estimated that about thirty 

 per cent of the improved land in the United States is pasture land. The 

 largest area of land used for grazing is embodied in the extensive ranges 

 lying in the western half of the United States. To this range land and the 

 permanent pastures on farms may be added large deforested areas that are 

 capable of producing pasture. The value of the products per acre from 

 the grazed land is exceedingly low, but since the area is so large, the aggre- 

 gate return is great. The return per acre from meadow land is also 

 comparatively low, but much larger than that from pasture lands. No 

 statistics are available by which to estimate the returns from pasture 

 lands, although there are fairly accurate statistics for the meadows, as 

 indicated in the chapter on "Meadow and Pasture Grasses." 



Essential Qualities of Meadows and Pastures. — The essential qualities 

 of meadow grasses are given in the chapter under that name. It is not so 

 essential that meadows become permanent, except in case of wet land or 

 land too rough or stony to be cultivated, and which for any reason cannot 

 be pastured. 



It is generally important, however, that pastures be made as permanent 

 as possible. This calls for a mixture of grasses that are either very long 

 lived or that are capable of reproduction under pasture conditions. A 

 good pasture should start growth early in the season and continue to produce 

 until late in the fall. The grasses should be palatable, nutritious and present 

 variety and give abundant growth. They should also form a continuous, 

 compact turf that will withstand much tramping by animals. A variety 

 of grasses that will provide for growth under both moist and dry soil 

 conditions is also advantageous. The deep-rooted grasses and clovers 

 can, therefore, be advantageously included with the shallow-rooted ones 



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