PASTURES. 



WHY PASTURES FAIL. 



Many pastures fail in midsummer because they are not made right. Too 

 few grasses and clovers are employed in the mixture. In many sections, par- 

 ticularly in the Central West, timothy is the only grass used. This should be 

 supplemented with clovers that mature earlier and again come on later in the 

 season than timothy. Some of the other grasses with different habits of 

 growth and seasons of maturing should also be used in the mixture, thus se- 

 curing with the clover not only more pasture but a far better quality of pasture. 



PASTURE MIXTURES. 



Instead of seeding timothy alone the following mixture is suggested, per 

 acre : Timothy, 10 pounds ; red clover, 8 pounds ; alsike, 2 pounds ; orchard 

 grass, 4 pounds; Italian rye grass, 5 pounds; English rye, 4 pounds; meadow 

 fescue, 4 pounds. Such a mixture will give a heavier hay crop and hay of 

 better quality than timothy alone, and when left as pasture will afford a 

 much greater quantity of forage throughout the growing season, besides being 

 earlier. Kentucky bluegrass will usually come into the pasture of its own 

 accord, but can be hastened by seeding about 5 pounds w-ith the mixture men- 

 tioned above. If the grasses mentioned above are not available, then a mix- 

 ture of 12 pounds of timothy, 8 pounds of common red clover, 4 pounds of 

 mammoth clover, and 4 pounds of alsike may be seeded. 



The grasses should be seeded in the fall with the winter grain and the clovers 

 in early spring when the frost goes out, or both may be seeded together with 

 the spring grain. If a grass-seed attachment to the grain drill is not available, 

 the seed may be mixed in the proper proportions with the grain in the grain 

 box and allowed to run down the grain tube with the grain. 



The timothy and clover will be available for hay the first year after the 

 grain is cut. By the third year a good permanent sod will be secured that, if 

 properly cared for, will improve with age. Such pastures will not produce 

 much feed during periods of intensive drought, but if they have been properly 

 cared for will begin to grow again as soon as rains come. To avoid as much 

 as possible the injury from drought it is essential that pastures be not grazed 

 too closely. There should be a good green cover or " grass mulch " in order to 

 protect the roots from the hot sun. Such a pasture will remain green longer 

 during dry weather and will begin to grow as soon as the drought is broken, 

 thus shortening the period of bare pastures. 



However, provision should always be made to supplement the pastures at 

 this season by planting summer forage to tide over. 



SUPPLEMENTARY AND SUMMER PASTURES. 



An excellent plan in providing against shortage of pastures is to grow each 

 year some of the supplementary crops, such as rye, millet, cowpeas, rape, or 

 sorghum, mentioned above to be used during the dry season. An excellent 

 annual pasture can be made by seeding together in spring 1J bushels of oats, 

 30 pounds of sorghum, and 10 pounds of mammoth or common red clover. The 

 oats are ready for pasture in late spring and early summer, the sorghum comes 

 on at its best in the hot midsummer, while the clover gives some fall pasture. 



The Farmers' Bulletins referred to in this circular can be obtained 

 free by addressing the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 

 The experiment stations in each of the States covered by this circular 

 have published much additional information on these subjects, which 

 can be obtained, if available, by writing for it. 



David A. Brodie, 



Agriculturist 

 Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Secretary. 

 Washington, D. C, July 3, 1911. 



[Cir. 36] 



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