278 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



by animals under favorable conditions will be overcome in temperate 

 climates by the freezing and thawing during the winter. 



In grasses the growth takes place at the base of the leaves and lower 

 portions of the internodes, so that grazing does not destroy the plants 

 unless the plants or portions thereof are injured below the point of 

 growth. 



The grazing capacity of a pasture will be determined by the care given 

 to it and the manner in which it is grazed. Its grazing capacity should be 

 fully utilized, and it is believed that the pasture will be maintained fully 

 as well, and sometimes better, in this way than when not fully grazed. In 

 pastures that are not fully utilized many weeds occur that go to seed and 

 result in weedy pastures within a few years. No animals are better for 

 destroying weeds than sheep, although all classes of livestock will eat most 

 kinds of weeds when there is a shortage of grasses. There are few experi- 

 ments in America on pastures and pasturing. 



Improvement of Meadows and Pastures. — "An ounce of prevention 

 is worth a pound of cure" applies especially to meadows and pastures. 

 This is pretty thoroughly covered in the treatment and care of meadows 

 and pastures discussed in the preceding topics. Brush pastures may be 

 improved by removing the brush by clearing, by firing or by pasturing with 

 goats. The latter is perhaps the most economical method, provided gcats 

 can be secured and disposed of without loss. This not only cleans the 

 pastures, but utilizes the removed product in the form of brush, weeds, etc. 



Wet pastures may be improved by underdrainage. This not cnly 

 encourages the growth of the more nutritious and better grasses and 

 clovers, but protects the pasture against injury through tramping by 

 animals when too wet. The expense of drainage for pasture land must 

 not be too great. 



Manuring, Fertilizing and Liming. — Sour soils should be liberally 

 limed when prepared for meadows or pastures. Meadows that are to be 

 continued for several years may be top-dressed with lime to good advan- 

 tage, and pastures may be top-dressed at intervals of six to ten years. The 

 benefits from liming will be determined chiefly by the acidity of the soil 

 and the proportion of clovers that enter into the meadow and pasture 

 mixtures. 



Barnyard and stable manure is advantageously used in the establish- 

 ment of meadows and pastures. It is often advisable to apply the manure 

 to the crop preceding the one in which the grass is seeded. On the other 

 hand, meadows that are to remain for several years may be advantageously 

 top-dressed with light applications of manure, greatly to the benefit of the 

 grass. Such top-dressing has been found profitable wherever manure is 

 available, or may be purchased at low cost. The better sod resulting is 

 also beneficial to the crops which are to follow the meadow. 



It is unusual to apply manure to pastures once established, since the 

 droppings of the animals, if properly distributed, go far towards meeting 



