l8o MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



are allowed to grow from year to year in a permanent 

 pasture, the owner is blameworthy, as usually they can 

 be eradicated without great labor. 



The ideal method of grazing grass pastures is that 

 which divides them into fields, so that alternation in the 

 grazing may be possible. This provides grazing with 

 more freshness and tenderness in it than would be possi- 

 ble in uninterrupted grazing. It also tends to prevent 

 eating some parts of the pasture close and continuing to 

 graze on these to the neglect of grazing on other por- 

 tions. The objection to this plan is the cost of the fenc- 

 ing. Where keeping sheep is a leading interest, the aim 

 should be to provide such fencing, as in its absence graz- 

 ing best adapted to all the different seasons cannot be 

 furnished. Pastures grazed in the spring will still have 

 time to furnish suitable autumn grazing when given a 

 period of rest from grazing in the summer. Pastures 

 grazed for a longer period in the spring will still have 

 time to cover themselves with grass for winter and early 

 spring grazing. Blue grass in the North and meadow 

 fescue in the South are probably the two best grasses to 

 provide such grazing. The protection given by the old 

 grass greatly aids early growth in the new, and the two 

 eaten together are more suitable than either eaten alone. 



The renovation of pastures grazed by sheep, at least 

 on the arable farm, should not be difficult. About the 

 only sure means of renovating those of the open range 

 is to fence them off and let them rest until, maturing for 

 a sufficient length of time, they seed themselves. The 

 renovation of the pastures of the arable farm may be 

 brought about: (i) Simply by in some way turning open 

 the surface; (2) by sowing seed of certain kinds on them 

 when they are thus torn open; and (3) by means of direct 

 fertilization. 



Sheep pastures only require renovation by the first 

 method when they become sodbound. Such a condition 

 is most liable in quack grass should it be used in provid- 



