(•ARH OF PASTURES. 2i\r, 



Thoy rerimiiicd in the siitiic piistiiro till Octobt-r 1, when tliov 

 woi'u turned into u iiioiidow. Tlu' rollowiii*,' <^ninn (in pounds) 

 Wi'Vii niad(! for tlio .soiison: May, Xi)*; June, ;>(;0; July, UK); 

 Aii<,Mist, i;;.'; ScptcMiher, :s ; Octohor, y:;(l; Novcinhcr, \:>2; 

 t.otul gain, l,;ir)4 pounds. Kadi aniriial <i:ain('(I— tal<in<,' Out 

 avorii<,'«— n;5S.l i)oiinds from May 1 till T)e(;onibor 1. From 

 Aii;,nist l.") till 0(!tol)or 1 they rocjoivod a daily ration of wheat 

 hran and oats — four (puirts jx-r head. 



"'I'hreo of these heifors were summer calves of tln^ year ])re- 

 vious, iMakin<( them short yearlin,i,'s. 'i'he majority of i>\\r 

 (common cultivated ^n-asses grow most rajjidly when the soil is 

 <|Mite moist and the temperatunt is between 10*^ and 80". Our 

 I)la(!k, })rairi()soil, when exposed, frefiuently reachesa temperature 

 of 11')° at the surface. Under such conditions (naporation goes 

 on with ^M-ea,t rapidity and the soil hecomes dry to a considcrahle 

 depth. 'I'en inches of dense grass alTord sulli(;ient protection to 

 the surface of the soil to keep tlus temperature about that of the 

 atmosphere in the daytinus and considerably warmer than the 

 atmosphere at night, thus preventing such sudden and wide 

 extremes of temperature* that thej)lants fail to adjust themselves. 

 While it does not destroy them, it retards or prevents growth. 



"Close grazing nmy do in a cool, moist cdinuitt; with somo 

 stock, but upon our western ])rairies it is a mistake. Where 

 there is an abundant-e of grass the cattle take regular meals, and 

 lie down to digest; upon short range they are 'jonstantly traveling 

 and picking, which does not afford the best conditions for vifor 

 growtli, or the production of beef or milk. In the fall a good 

 coat of grass ])rotects the roots from frost, and growth continues 

 till (|uit(* lat(( in tlie season, even after the opcjii gronnd is frozen 

 two inches or more. This is the secret of our so-called winter 



grazing." 



Concerning the management of grass lands, Sir .T. F,. Lawes 

 finds it very important not to feed yonng grass the lirst year. 



34 



