GRASS AND THE NATIONAL FOOD SUPPLY 



465 



be more punished than the perennial rye grass, for the latter has grown 

 and developed its root system. 



Hard grazing at the end of May, when wild white clover starts its growth, 

 reduced the competition of the tall growing grasses — perennial rye grass 

 and cocksfoot. The wild white clover, freed from the overshadowing 

 effect of these grasses, develops. If the field is shut up for hay, in the 

 early spring the tall grasses develop and overshadow the wild white clover, 

 with the result that the clover population is greatly reduced and may be 

 eliminated after successive years of this treatment. By hard grazing in 



Periods of ProducLive Growth 

 of Leaf of some Grasses. 



Jon Teb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 



Fig. 5. 



early summer in subsequent years, the clover can be brought back, the 

 rate of progress being increased if the pasture is kept hard grazed both 

 winter and summer. 



There is another important point in pasture management which I can 

 illustrate from the diagram. The earliest grass which we can grow in the 

 spring is perennial rye grass. It will usually grow quite early in April if 

 there is a well-established root system. From the diagram we see that 

 perennial rye grass grows as late as September and October, so if we do 

 not graze or cut the pasture during the latter half of September and early 

 October, perennial rye grass will grow and establish a strong root system. 

 After October, when the grass has ceased to grow, we can eat off the grass 

 without damaging the root system, but if we want early grass next year 

 we must take the cattle off about Christmas and fertihse the pasture with 



