IMPROVING PASTURES 303 



Minnesota, are Kentucky blue grass and white clover. 

 These two plants come in on old meadows and in pastures 

 almost spontaneously, and it is seldom necessary to sow them. 

 If a mixture is sown especially for use as pasture, some seed 

 of each of these plants should be included, but the quantity 

 need not be large unless the location is one where they are 

 not common. Brome grass is also a good pasture plant in 

 this section, and one which is much relished by stock. Its 

 range of usefulness extends westward into the dry sections 

 of Nebraska and the Dakotas. Its use is restricted because 

 it is difficult to obtain seed free from quack grass. In the 

 South, Bermuda grass is the great pasture plant, though les- 

 pedeza, or Japan clover, is also important. In the Great 

 Plains and Rocky Mountain states, the native grasses make 

 up practically all of the pastures, and for the most part are 

 more hardy and nutritious than any introduced plants. 

 Alfalfa is used as pasture in a limited way. In various por- 

 tions of the country, annual pasture plants are sown to some 

 extent. 



376. Improving a Native Pasture. A native pasture, 

 especially in the Eastern and Central states, may often be 

 materially improved by proper treatment and care. Where 

 the ground is rough and there are many hummocks, the use 

 of the disk and smoothing harrows will help to level it and 

 aid in the production of a better stand and more uniform 

 growth. Brush pastures may be improved by removing all 

 or a part of the brush by clearing, firing, or pasturing with 

 goats. The latter is perhaps the most economical method, 

 as the goats will clear out the brush and at the same time 

 bring in some return. Disking or harrowing pastures to 

 loosen the surface soil, and then sowing small quantities of 

 seed of good pasture plants such as Kentucky blue grass or 

 white clover, will increase the productiveness of native 



