THE BLUE-GRASSES 



97 



during the hottest portion of summer and being cov- 

 ered too deeply with snow in winter for stock to reach 

 it. Farther south the dormant period of summer 

 is more pronounced, but the slighter depth of snow 

 makes it available as a winter feed, for which it is 

 justly prized in the latitude of southern Iowa and south 

 to the limits of its range. When winter pasture is de- 

 sired it is wise to keep stock off blue-grass pastures in 

 the fall. 



One of the most valuable characteristics of blue- 

 grass is its exceeding palatability to all kinds of stock. 

 This is fully as important as its well-known nutritive 

 quality. Stock eat it so readily as to render blue-grass 

 pastures the most valuable adjunCt to grain in the fat- 

 tening process. It is becoming more and more the 

 practice in the region where good blue-grass pastures 

 are common to fatten cattle while at pasture. Gains 

 are made more cheaply on such pastures than in any 

 other manner. Without them beef production requires 

 the most favorable conditions for success. 



In most parts of the Blue- Grass Region it is custom- 

 ary to provide other green feed for stock in midsum- 

 mer, for pastures are liable to be short at that season, 

 especially if rainfall is scanty. Those who manage their 

 pastures most judiciously prefer to let them rest during 

 midsummer, even in seasons where there is good feed 

 on them, so as to make them more productive late in 

 the season. 



It is well known that blue-grass is slow in starting 

 on freshly seeded land. Many farmers never plow up 

 a good blue-grass sod because of the difficulty of start- 

 ing a new one and the great length of time required. 



