PASTURES AND MEADOWS. 43 



portions of the West, except the Sand Hills, the important grasses are: 

 Buffalo grass (Bulbilis dactyloides Kaf.) and blue grama (Bouteloua 

 oligostachya Torr.). 



An important grass in the West, especially for hay, is the wheat- 

 grass (Agropyron occidentals). This spreads by extensively creeping 

 underground stems. The foliage is stiff and rather harsh, but never- 

 theless it forms a very nutritious ha} T . This grass is more resistant 

 to drought than an j of the hay grasses of the West. 



There are maii}^ other grasses which are of more or less agricultural 

 importance, but, compared with those mentioned, the}^ are insignificant. 



CARE OF NATIVE PASTURES AND MEADOWS. 



Unless proper precautions are taken to prevent it, both meadows 

 and pastures tend to deteriorate. In pastures the stock are contin- 

 ually eating off the most palatable plants and avoiding the others, 

 which are in this respect weeds. To prevent such exhaustion it is 

 necessary to limit the number of stock to the forage-producing power 

 of the pasture. The same is true of the open range. Great harm has 

 resulted in many instances from overstocking. Particular care must 

 be exercised in this respect at what might be called critical periods, 

 or when unfavorable conditions, such as drought, curtail the produc- 

 tion of grass. In pastures this exhaustion can be avoided by supple- 

 menting the grazing by soiling crops. An excellent way to encourage 

 the recuperative power of the native grasses is to give the pasture a 

 rest by providing two pastures, which ma} r be used alternately for 

 periods of from two to four weeks. 



With meadows deterioration is less marked, as the weeds are cut at 

 the same time as the grass. However, it is advisable to allow the 

 grasses to go to seed occasionally. It is a bad practice to pasture the 

 aftermath during the autumn, as this encourages the growth of weeds. 



The burning off of pastures or meadows is not to be recommended, 

 as experience has demonstrated that though a green growth can be 

 induced earlier the final results are harmful. The crowns of the grasses 

 are injured and the fertilizing effect of the dried leaves is lost. 



On the other hand, the practice of mowing the weeds in pastures in 

 summer is good, as they are thus prevented from going to seed. 



If the number of stock limited to its capacity is allowed to use the 

 pasture, the manure thus distributed tends to keep up fertility; but 

 meadows are constantly giving up nutriment drawn from the soil, the 

 loss of which must in time visibly affect the capacity. Therefore, 

 wherever the value of the hay is a sufficient recompense, it is well to 

 supply barnyard manure to make up this loss. 



