a 
California Irrigated Pastures 
BALANCED PLANTING 
Trrigated pastures have become an essential 
part of the farm economy of California. They 
provide a permanent source of livestock forage, 
high in feed value, at a minimum cost in labor. 
Practically any type of soil may be utilized 
in the making of a permanent pasture. Shallow 
soils not adapted to the production of other 
profitable crops may be made valuable by 
seeding to a balanced planting of pasture 
grasses and clovers. 
SUITABLE MIXTURE 
Many formulas or mixtures are recommended 
for establishing a good pasture but the planter 
must be guided by the particular needs of his 
type of soil. A general purpose mixture for an 
acre planting and suitable for probably 75% 
of the plantings is made up as follows: 
3 pounds Ladino Clover, 
2 pounds Alfalfa Seed, 
3 pounds Domestic Rye, 
3 pounds Perennial Rye, 
3 pounds Orchard Grass or Tall Fescue, 
2 pounds Dallis Grass. 
A mixture of this type will provide an abun- 
dance of feed for 8 to 11 months of the year. A 
pound or two of Birdsfoot Trefoil may be added 
to this mixture as this legume has increased in 
popularity in the last two years. On alkaline 
soils the legumes used are Birdsfoot Trefoil and 
Yellow Blossom Sweet Clover and the grasses: 
Tall Fescue and Rye Grass (Perennial and Do- 
mestic) while Rhodes Grass is added in frost- 
free sections. On the extremely heavy soils 
farmers show a preference for Birdsfoot Tre- 

foil as a legume and add Rye, Tall Fescue and 
Orchard Grass for the grass component. 
There is no hard and fast rule as to the 
makeup of a good pasture mixture but a per 
acre planting of 15 to 20 pounds of seed should 
be made with at least one-third of this amount 
being legume seed. 
THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES 
The three main objectives of a pasture oper- 
ator should be: the maintenance of an ade-_ 
quate balance of legumes and grasses through 
as much of the pasture season as possible, 
maintenance of highest possible carrying ca- 
pacity, and utilization of feeds at their highest 
possible nutritive value. Proper use of irriga- 
tion water and proper management of livestock 
contribute most to these objectives. 
The grasses in the recommended mixtures 
have a preferred season for growth and ripen- 
ing. Domestic Rye Grass is the earliest and 
tends to become semi-dormant in mid-season; 
Perennial Rye Grass is somewhat later while 
Orchard, Dallis and Tall or Meadow Fescue 
are mid-season grasses. Alfalfa is added in 
warmer sections to provide legume pasturage 
when Ladino is inclined to sag under the hot 
weather conditions. Thus in a mixture of 
proper proportions a succession of grasses is 
obtained for proper balance of ration. 
ROTATE GRAZING LIVESTOCK 
Grazing of pastures should be deferred after 
irrigation until such time as the soil has dried 
to a point where plants will not be injured by 
trampling. Efforts should be made to rotate 
grazing livestock so that grasses will be grazed 
at a time when most palatable. This time, gen- 
erally speaking, is lush growth just as the 
plants reach flowering stage. If grasses are 
allowed to advance to a seed stage, they are 
avoided by stock and thus the balance of 
grasses in a mixture is endangered. If the pas- 
ture operator does not have sufficient stock 
to keep the grasses grazed properly, the pas- 
ture should be clipped. 
PROPER BALANCE PREVENTS 
BLOATING 
Bloating of cattle and sheep in Ladino pas- 
tures is an ever present hazard. This may be 
partly avoided by proper balance of grasses 
and legumes in the pasture. In California 
where pasture operators have made a close 
study for many years, 40 to 50 per cent legumes 
has been found to meet the grazing prefer- 
ances of these animals with a minimum of 
hazard. 
No pasture planting will be successful unless 
good seed is used. The planter should be care- 
ful that seed is of good quality with high purity 
and germination and free of noxious weeds. 
We insist at all times that the seed we offer is 
of the highest standard. We will be glad to 
furnish information on the seeds we stock and 
to advise you on other questions not covered 
in this catalog. 
SEND FOR CIRCULAR 
The College of Agriculture at Davis, co- 
operating with the extension service, has con- 
tributed greatly to the development of irri- 
gated pastures in California. Specialists at the 
Agricultural College have written a number 
of circulars on this subject and these may be 
obtained by writing to the college or by con- 
sulting your County Agricultural Extension 
agent. 
SUGGESTED PASTURE MIXTURES 
Light to Heavy Loam Soils 
lbs. per acre 
MereUTOMGHOVCTIN 1 cic clk ene ce te lee eee 3 
Si, CSR SAS ea ea 2 
LSI. oo ec lAl ee  r 2 
Domesncenye Grass... ns... aes 3} 
Percnmial nye Grass. 5.500. kee s 3 
MP OMOTOME POSS oc cic awed uy see coe ats 2 
(eal VCS Gre eG) SI A ee ae 3 
Light or Sandy Soils 
lbs. per acre 
PNboitiogm Once oo oot ee noe ) 
Yn B. DWCOt CIOV OL. ctenrsy ie sapere rates 2 
Birdstoot: drefoil Wyo see eerste = 2 
Buri ClovierOi yt asracte eee einen te ete ccs 2 
Domesticowhye | Grass. peniseews aslo cents. 3 3 
Perennicd wy e, Grassinenis se wae aires 3 
OGrehardion Wallis! Grassy acne esc 2 
Perl FASCUG Wakes pinche ee mpeicinderegene inte sss 3 
PASTURE GRASSES, CLOVER 
GRASSES 
BROME GRASS 
(Bromus Inermis) 
(Awnless Brome Grass) 
An excellent grass for the higher regions of 
Northern California. Adapted to regions of 
light rainfall; prefers clay or clay loam soils, 
but does fairly well on sandy soils. Very deep 
rooted; withstands drought and extreme cold. 
Sow 15 lbs. per acre. 
REED CANARY GRASS 
Naturally a moist or wet land grass, but 
will produce on high, well drained land. 
Rather coarse but very palatable as hay or 
pasture. May be seeded alone or in mixtures. 
Where irrigation is heavy, plant 8 lbs. per 
acre. 

PERENNIAL RYE GRASS 
Used extensively in permanent pasture seed- 
ings. Starts quickly and furnishes early graz- 
ing while other grasses are becoming estab- 
lished. Adapted to a wide range of soils and 
tolerant of wet land. 
CRESTED WHEAT GRASS 
This is a valuable plant for our Western 
country and thrives well in semi-arid sections. 
It is one of the best and surest hay grasses 
for these sections. It produces good crops of 
hay and makes excellent permanent pasture. 
It withstands drought and cold winters. 10 to 
15 pounds is usually sown per acre. 


Moderately Aikaline Soils 
lbs. per acre 
Yo:Ba Sweet Glovienta .cvsceakn «iba raters 3 
Binciwaberrys | GlOViere sian. ae. veneer 2 
Birdstootureton vation eee asa eee 2 
Domestic: Rye. Grasse: waa etic cee 3 
Perennial Rye Grassi. sa. ate sat ree 2 
Tel PESCuel since eee eee cane ee 3 
*Brome Grass or Rhodes Grass....... 3 
*Winter kills in temperatures of 20° and under. 


PASTURE GRASSES, CLOVER CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 37 
