14 BULLETIN 68, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ears. If sown broadcast, the last cultivation of the corn covers the 

 seed. 



If vetch and wheat or oats are sown in corn when "laid by" in 

 July, the pasture is ready for use by October 1 ; if sown on spring- 

 plowed stubble land in the early fall, it is ready about November 1. 

 The pasture may be used during the winter and early spring. If 

 other pasture is not available, these crops will also furnish excellent 

 forage for hogs until late in June. Vetch is also sown alone in the 

 fall and used during April, May, and June. 



English rye-grass. — Owing to the excessive winter precipitation 

 west of the Cascade Mountains, the ground is frequently so wet that 

 the tramping of stock is very injurious to most soils. For this rea- 

 son a grass pasture with a close, tough sod is very desirable for win- 

 ter use. English rye-grass meets this need admirably. This grass 

 forms a close sod that stands tramping well. It is one of the first 

 grasses to begin growth in the spring and one of the last to cease 

 growing in the fall. A rye-grass pasture maybe used from the early 

 autumn unt il the following July . During the summer drought , growth 

 practically ceases. If kept grazed rather closely, the pasture will last 

 for years. 



A permanent English rye-grass pasture may be started by sowing 

 from 10 to 15 pounds of seed per acre with oats or wheat in the early 

 spring or fall. The grain crop is either thrashed or cut for hay. The 

 grass is then ready for grazing the following autumn after being 

 sown. A permanent pasture may be started also by sowing the grass 

 seed with vetch, oats, or wheat on stubble land in the early fall. The 

 mixture of grass, vetch, and grain is used for pasture the following 

 winter and spring. The second year the pasture is a close grass sod 

 that will stand grazing when the ground is wet. 



Winter wheat, — Winter wheat sown in the early fall for a grain 

 crop furnishes excellent pasture for hogs during February, March, 

 and April. 



GRAIN CROPS TO HOG OFF. 



Table II. — Crops to hog off in western Oregon and western Washington. 



Crops. 



When planted. 



Approximate date when used. 





Earlv spring 



July 1 to July 20. 







Julv 10 to August 10. 







Tulv 25 to October 1. 





April 20 to Mav 10 



September 15 to November 15. 









Wheat. — -Hogs make rapid and economical gains on wheat until 

 the chaff becomes thoroughly dry. If they are then supplied with 

 green feed, they will do much better. If peas are not available for 

 hogging off during August and September, wheat may be used until 

 the autumn rains begin. Spring wheat may also be grown to take 

 the place of the peas. 



