PASTURAGE. The value of pasturage is second to no other product of the country. Yet it is the fact that comparatively few permanent pastures are to be found in the country. This is undoubtedly owing to the fact, that but com paratively a small portion of the United States is so broken and hilly as not to be susceptible of easy cultivation. Hence our pasture grasses are such as are used for hay. Timothy and clover are the two principal plants used for hay. Clo ver is a biennial, or, at most a triennial, and hence except when it constantly re-seeds itself, it is soon lost. Timothy, on account of its bulbous root at the surface of the ground, is not adapted to close pasturage. Hence for permanent pas ture, we must seek for tbose grasses forming a close, compa,ct sod, and which, at the same tinoe, are perennial and not easily killed by the tramp ing of stock. In the article clover, in that of grass, and in writing of individual species, we have noticed many varieties not in general culti vation here. In the question of grasses for pas turage, therefore, experiment must be made as to the adaptability of certain species. This will be treated of further on. Those grasses that do well generally, and which are well known in all the grass growing sections are red and white clover, timothy, red top, blue grass, and orchard grass. If our agricultural colleges in each State would make careful and long-continued experi ment with various grasses, both for hay and pasturage, with a view of ascertaining their adaptability to various soils and climates, their power of withstanding summer droughts and i.ti,mping, then it would be of incalculable bene fit to the agriculture of the several States in a direct money point of view, and greatly assist farmers in determining their respective values. Until this is done systematically and in concert by the management of the several State schools, the farmer must depend upon his own experi ments. (See article Grasses, for specific distinc tion of grasses.) It is evident that the main dependence for pastures must be those plants that do well generally. Among the clovers will be found red clover, white or Dutch clover, and Alsike clover ; the tvvo last given will do well on rather moist land. Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) is a pale-red perennial species, and on moist lands may undoubtedly be cultivated with advantage, either for pasture or mowing. It makes fine pasturage, better, we think, than white clover; and fair hay, but not so valuable as that from red clover. As a pasturage for bees, it is also most valuable. It loves a clayey soil, especially a marly clay, and thrives on marshy lands, even when sometimes overflowed. It has the disadvantage of not springing into growth after being mown for hay, and also that it requires two or three years to become well established in the soil. In general appearance and habit of growth is intermediate between the common red and white clover. It is highly valuable for pasturage, growing rapidly affer being eaten down, and furnishing a large amount of food during the season. The stems remain soft and succulent even when old, never becoming so woody and hard as that of red clover; it also partakes of the creeping, spread ing habit of white clover. It yields well when cut for hay, being thick and close, although not so tall in growth as the red clover. Red clover succeeds well in all soils not strongly inclined to, heave. In fact, in all well drained soils. White clover succeeds well in dry soils, and also in moist ones, if not wet. Alsike grows in soils moister. From their general adaptation to the West, they should be given a trial everywhere. These three varieties of clover are all that may be considered, except on the dry soils far west, where alfalfa is found valuable. Our advice in seeding either for pasture or meadow is to seed freely for pasture of all three varieties, and for meadow with red clover on dry soils, and with Alsike on moist soils. Of the three grasses for pasturage, where it will stand, the chief reliance may be upon blue grass, red top, orchard grass, fowl meadow, sheep fescue. Late experiments in Wisconsin with fowl meadow grass (Poa Serotima) sometimes called false red top, have shown this to be a most valuable grass both for the meadow and pasture. It will undoubt edly be found so in many localities. Hence the
necessity of experiment with other varieties. In relation to the nature of the pasturage and the grasses to be sown for special grazing, all farmers know that horses and sheep bite close to the ground and that cattle do not. Hence for cat tle long pasturage is necessary; also that cattle, horses, and sheep leave particular varieties to grow up to seed, unless starved, while others they pasture close. In our dry, summer climate, pasture often becomes brown in summer, some times for long periods. At such time soiling crops, or grain, or both, should be provided, if in one's power. To accomplish this the soil should be rather compact as to its lower portion, but smooth and with a firm mellow tilth as to its surface or seed-bed. In seeding for a permanent pasture anywhere, whatever the mixture of grasses may be, not less than thirty perunds per acre of grass seed should be sown, and many of our bestsraziers advise forty pounds of seed per acre. The basis of our pastures must consist of red clover, white clover and Alsike clover, and the fine grasses named. Blue grass, however, is so persistent that it will soon root out the other grasses on soils congenial to it, and also the clo vers, except white clover. As the basis for experiment, we give a list that has been found valuable in England, and regret that there has been no accurate test experiments caified out as yet in the United States to show the value of many of the varieties, that will be named from first to last, to test their capabilities in their power of withstanding drought and our more severe northern winters. It must be recollected that the climate of Great Britain is cool and moist, and mild in winter, while ours is hot. "The varieties are as in the following lots: variety sown for pasture as well. The quantity of seeds sown per acre, at the rate we have indicated, will be something enormous when we recollect their extreme minuteness; but then it must be remembered that the finer the seed the more are lost from not germinating, and by killing before fairly established in the soil. It is poor policy to grudge seed in sowing a meadow, and especially a pasture. The following table will show the common and scientific name of some well known clovers and other plants, and the number of seeds per ounce: In lot one we should throw out numbers 9 and 11 It is hardly probable that the annual poa, or that the vetches will be valuable. The same may be said of lot two, number 10. The Latherus or pea tribe are valuable for fatten ing, but would hardly stand in a pasture. The same may be said of number 2, in lot three, the Yarrow, or 1VIilfoil. The probability is the list may have to be narrowed still more. Permanent pastures are not made in a single year. They take time, and once they have become permanent, they should be kept so by every means in one's power. Do not pasture too young, and never when so soft that it will poach. Give the sod time to form hard and solid, and you will have a permanent mine of wealth. The object of thick seeding is not only that one plant may support and nurse another, and thus quickly shade the soil, but also that every square inch of soil will surely contain seed. Sixty-four varieties of plants have been found in a single square foot of old English pasture, and from twenty to thirty is not unusual. The improvement of stock commenced in England, and has kept even pace there with the introduction of cultivated grasses and other forage plants. The four quarters of the earth have been examined for whatever might be found. Herein American farmers may take a valuable lesson, not only in experimenting with new grasses, and in the preparation of the soil, and in the quantity of seed sown, but in the great Below we give lists of varieties that in England have been found to do well on various soils, with the quantities to be sown. In experiment ing with these and other grasses, we would advise that each species be sown on some trial patches separately, noting their adaptability, season and growth. With this held in view, the following varieties and quantities will be found interesting, remembering that when trial patches of single varieties are sown that the rate of one pound to twenty-five feet square will be sufficient seed for an experimental plot.