SHENANDOAH VALLEY’S 
Mei 
Su. 
xian 
3, MODERN SEED HOUSE 
Ag 
8 
Wetzel’s Dependable Pasture and Grass Mixtures 
PASTURE PROVIDES 
GHEAPEST FOOD 
Like every other class of people, dairymen and producers of cattle, 
sheep, hogs and even poultry are forever competing with each other. 
The cattle producer or the dairyman in, say, the Shenandoah Valley 
is in direct competition with the cattle grower or the dairyman in 
other parts of the country—for instance, the Midwest, the Rocky 
Mountains and for that matter, the Deep South. The fellow who 
can produce cattle or milk at the lowest unit price is the one who will 
make the most net profit and last the longest. 
Obviously, cash paid for feed is the major production cost. It is 
equally apparent that the more pasture a farmer has available, the 
less feed is required. The longer the pasture season, the greater is 
the annual volume of pasture, with consequent reduction in the cash 
outlay for feed. 
Because of this economic pressure for more pasture extending over 
as many months as possible, two important developments have taken 
place in recent years. The first is that the production of livestock, 
especially cattle, is tending southward, where the growing season is 
longer. Second, newer and more prolific grasses that grow over a 
longer season are being used for pasture, such as orchard grass, 
fescues and ladino, in contrast to what used to be regarded as ‘‘the’’ 
pasture grass—namely, blue grass. 
This brings us to another important facet confronting livestock 
producers and dairymen of Virginia, especially the Valley district, 
and the adjacent states of Maryland and West Virginia. Stated 
briefly, it is that more and better pasture is the only way to reduce feed 
costs and to meet the competition that is rapidly developing farther south. 
Recognizing this fact, the heads of the Extension Division of our 
Experimental Station at Blacksburg have become somewhat per- 
turbed—and we think with justification. In an effort to meet the 
challenge, they have inaugurated a vigorous, state-wide campaign 
designed to induce farmers to grow more and better pasture. You 
may have seen some of their printed material and heard talks on the 
subject. The campaign is spearheaded by the slogan, ‘‘Pasture is 
the Cheapest Feed—What Are You Doing About It?”’ 
Further proof of the importance of more and better pasture is 
provided by the fact that the United States Department of Agri- 
culture has for some time subsidized farmers who seeded land to 
pasture, by paying for several kinds of seeds, including orchard grass, 
ladino and alfalfa. The comment and evidence above should suffice 
to convince all readers of the value of pasture in cutting down the 
cost of feed. The only remaining questions are: (1) what shall I sow, 
(2) how much per acre, (3) when and how. These questions are par- 
tially answered below and on other pages. We shall be glad to supply 
more detailed information in person. 
GOOD PASTURE 
Pastures and good-quality: hay are the cheapest source of feed. 
One hundred pounds of digestible nutrients from good permanent 
pasture will cost 50c to 60c; from good alfalfa hay, $2.50 to $3.00; and 
from a mixed dairy ration costing $75.00 a ton, it will cost about $5.00. 
A good system of pastures that will provide at least 240 days of 
continuous grazing will reduce the feed cost of producing milk by 
20 to 25 percent. Pastures will be worth 60c to 75c per cow per day, 
based on $75.00 per ton dairy feed. 
RESEEDING 
In general, a pasture that has less than a 50 percent stand of de- 
sirable grasses and legumes should be reseeded. The proper use of 
lime, liberal use of fertilizer and reseeding are the quickest ways to 
bring back a run-down pasture. 
CLIPPER SEED CLEANER 
Cleans and Grades all Farm Seeds and Grain 
Designed principally 
for farm use. Furnished 
with 12 interchangeable 
sereens for cleaning 
Wheat, Oats, Clovers, 
Alfalfa, Timothy, and 
other farm seeds and 
grain. Screens are 244% 
inches wide and 221% 
inches long. Fan _ is 
easily regulated to blow 
out as much or as little 
light weight grain as de- 
sired. Substantially built 
throughout. Capacity 
15 to 25 bushels per 
hour. Circular on re- 
quest. 
No. 2-B. Without bagging elevator. $81.50. 
No. 2-B. Special. With bagging elevator. $97. 
Electrical Drive Equipment with 14-h.p. motor. $36. 
The No. 2-B 
Special 
By 
Pasture Field 
FERTILIZER INCREASES GRAZING 
Tests made by the V. P. I. Dairy Department on a fairly good 
blue grass sod showed that a well-fertilized pasture produced 60 to 70 
percent more feed than unfertilized pasture. Proper fertilization 
will provide two weeks later grazing in the fall and two weeks earlier 
grazing in the spring. The value of pasture is determined to a large 
extent by how quick new growth comes back after being grazed off. 
An abundant supply of plant food is necessary for a quick comeback. 
ONE FIELD NOT ENOUGH 
The greatest number of days of grazing cannot be had with one 
pasture field. A system of pastures must be developed, using mixtures 
that give high yields at different times of the year. 
SEEDING DATES 
Seed after the first good rain in August and up to September 15, 
or during February, March and April. 
MIXTURE FOR 
MOIST BOTTOM LAND 
Composed of eight grasses and clovers, as follows: 5 lbs. Meadow 
Fescue, 4 lbs. Alta Fescue, 1 lb. Ladino Clover, 2 lbs. Red-Top, 2 lbs. 
Timothy and 2 lbs. White Dutch Clover—a total of 16 lbs. per acre. 
The price of this combination at press time is $11.00. 
MIXTURE FOR 
NORTHERN PIEDMONT AND 
WEST OF BLUE RIDGE 
No. 1. Not adapted to shallow, drought-type soils. Orchard Grass 
6 to 8 lbs.; Ladino Clover 2 lbs.; Korean Lespedeza 8 lbs. Approxi- 
mate price per acre, $7.72. 
WETSEL’S PASTURE MIXTURE 
The following is the combination of grasses that we have recom- 
mended for quite a few years. It has acquired something of a reputa- 
tion as a good, comparatively low-cost pasture mixture: 7 lbs. Korean 
Lespedeza, 6 lbs. Orchard Grass, 3 lbs. Timothy, 2 lbs. Alsike Clover. 
Sow in February, March and April on small grain crops or old sod. 
Approximate cost at press time, $4.72 per acre. 
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