57 



latter part of summer, if there is a proper degree of moisture in the soil. 

 Some sow a limited amount of seed daily and over the same surface 

 sprinkle shelled corn and then turn on their hogs. The hogs root in 

 search of the corn and thus plant the seed, doing the work of plow and 

 harrow. This, to say the least, is a slovenly way, and though possibly 

 insuring a good stand, the ground is made so rough it can never make a 

 beautiful pastuje until worn down. 



If the land is loose as some soils are, it will answer a very good pur- 

 pose to simply scratch the surface well with a sharp toothed harrow, and 

 this is especially to be commended where there is a large number of roots 

 in the ground. 



AFTER TREATMENT A blue grass pasture must not be pastured 

 to death. It will stand almost unlimited grazing, but there is a point 

 beyond which grazing will cease to be profitable. That limit should never 

 be passed. The better method is to have the field divided into lots and 

 allow the stock to run on one lot until it is cropped down, and then the 

 stock should be removed. No good purpose is served in letting stock 

 run on a lot in which there is no grass. It will not only do the stock 

 no good, but by constant tramping, the grass will be unable to throw up 

 any foliage. Under such treatment the roots will frequently perish. 

 Time should be given for the grass to recuperate by chang- 

 ing the stock from one pasture to another, and never permitting it to be 

 overstocked. Grass that will keep ten oxen in growing order, will fatten 

 five oxen quickly. Stock of all kinds are constant feeders and there 

 should always be forage enough to enable them to get plenty to eat with- 

 out the labor of hunting for it. 



There is much variety of opinion as to the amount of stock that ought 

 to be put on an acre. This arises from the difference in the capacity of 

 the land to produce grass, the character of the season and the nature of 

 the soil. Porous soils will stand much heavier grazing than compact 

 soils. It is better to err on the safe side and it is wiser to put on too 

 few than too many cattle. If stock are fattened quickly, they are more 

 remunerative than when fattened slowly. Ordinarily two acres of good 

 grass are sufficient for one three year old ox and what will fatten one ox 

 of that age, will fatten ten head of sheep. Some think that blue grass 

 should be allowed to go to seed once or twice or until the ground is well 

 set or turfed over and then never again. It is a grass that propagates 

 itself mainly by its creeping roots or rhizomes after the first sowing, and 

 it is the disposition of all plants and animals to lose vitality in the process 

 of reproduction. It lies dormant for a time after a full crop of seed. It 

 is to be doubted if blue grass should ever be allowed to go to seed after 

 the first time. 



The grass sometimes becomes so dry that it will burn. Stock will, 

 however, eat it, ravenously, in that condition. The grass having dried 

 full of nourishing juices, it is equal to the best of hay, and stock will fatten 

 upon it, unless the dried grass has been drenched with rain. 



The fall growth of some lots should be kept untouched by stock so 

 as to have a good winter pasture. The grass will grow high enough to 

 fall over and protect the surface foliage. In this condition stock will 



