CHAPTER XIII 

 PASTURES 



372. The Importance of Pastures. The acreage of 

 improved land in farms, according to the Census of 1910, 

 was about 477,000,000 acres. Of this, something like 145,- 

 000,000 acres was pasture land, a larger area than was devoted 

 to any one harvested crop, even slightly exceeding corn. 

 The total area in range, mountain, and improved pasture 

 land perhaps considerably exceeds one billion acres, though 

 this figure is necessarily a very rough estimate (Sec. 339). 

 It is impossible to make an accurate estimate of the annual 

 value of this pasture, but there is no doubt that it is greater 

 than that of any of the harvested crops. A valuation of 

 $1.50 an acre for the annual product of this land would aggre- 

 gate as much as the annual value of the corn crop. 



373. The Essentials of a Good Pasture. A good pasture 

 should start into growth early in the season and should con- 

 tinue to produce feed till late in the fall. The growth of 

 grasses should be fine rather than coarse, and the product of 

 the pasture should be both palatable and nutritious. The 

 yield should be abundant in order to furnish profitable 

 returns. The plants which compose it should form a close 

 turf which is not readily injured by tramping or close grazing. 



374. The Formation of a Pasture. In the making of a 

 pasture, about the same care is required as in the making of 

 a meadow, though it is not so necessary to have the ground 

 smooth and level. The plants which go into the making of 

 a pasture should be as carefully chosen, and it is as important 

 to have good seed, free from weeds and other impurities. 



