PRODUCTION OF CATTLE FOODS 273 



feres with this process. The old practice of maintaining 

 mowing fields for ten to twenty years without breaking 

 the sod might allow the grasses most congenial to the 

 soil and climate to establish themselves, but successful 

 farming on this basis is now scarcely possible. It is essen- 

 tial, therefore, especially in dealing with meadows and 

 pastures, to know what members of the grass family 

 or other forage plants find the environment congenial. 



366. New vs. old species of plants. — It is commonly 

 remarked, with much reason, that more is to be gained 

 by the proper selection and proper care of the forage 

 crops which have maintained successful, though perhaps 

 unrecognized, existence among us for years, than by seek- 

 ing for better results from some introduced species. No 

 cultivated plant possesses qualities that will defend the 

 farmer against the evil effects of poor or ill-directed cul- 

 ture, and when intelligent, thorough methods prevail, 

 many of the familiar species will do for us all we can 

 reasonably expect. Occasionally an introduced species 

 may serve a useful purpose, as is true of alfalfa, but in 

 general a more economical production of cattle foods will 

 be reached most siu-ely through an improvement of 

 methods in growing what we already have. 



367. Adaptability of crops to kind of animal produc- 

 tion. — It is obvious that the home production of feed- 

 ing-stuils must be adapted to the kind of stock kept. 

 A herd of dairy cows can hardly be most successfully 

 managed on the old basis of exclusive pasturing in the 

 simimer and exclusive dry food in the winter. To attain 

 the best results the pasture must be amended by soiling- 

 crops, at least during late summer and early autiunn, and 

 a succulent food is a decided improvement to a winter 

 ration. On the other hand, the successful growing of 



