PASTURE, PASTURAGE. The word pas ture signifies in its widest sense land for the grazing of domestic animals; in its limited sense, the inclosed lot or meadow found on near ly every farm in which the stock feeds on the growing herbage. The word pasturage also has two different meanings, being used in the one sense for the growing grass and other green plants eaten by stock, and in the other as a synonym for pasture. Pasture is here used in its limited sense, and pasturage as meaning the growing grass and herbage on which stock feeds. The area of the ranges, those great natural pas tures of the Rocky Mountain and Great. Plains regions, is decreasing as the land is being brought under cultivation by settlers. The pampas of South America, and to some extent the steppes of Asia,are vast natural feeding-grounds correspond Mg to our ranges. Sometimes the different kinds of farm animals are confined in one inclosure, but most farmers have a separate pasture for swine. Horses and cattle are generally pastured to gether, although they sometimes annoy and in jure each other. Sheep graze much closer than horses and cattle, and so place the latter at a disadvantage when pastured with them, while, on the other hand, they are useful in keeping, down certain weeds which horses and cattle do not eat. A dairy herd is always most protitablv pastured by itself. in the United States. and in all countries where new lands am brought into cultivation, the native prairie is often used for pastures. while in older countries or tled regions the cultivated soil is laid down to grass for this purpose. Native grasses hardy and adapted to the prevailing condition. of soil and climate. so that when they are used the clement of uncertainty is entirely eliminated. Pasturing more stock than can be well fed in a pasture of this kind has the effect of killing out the grasses and encouraging the growth of weeds, especially during times of drought. Occa sional light applications of well-rotted barnyard manure, followed by a thorough harrowing. are very beneficial when the sod has become unpro ductive and hard. The care of native pastures further requires that the weeds be always kept down and that hardy tame or wild be sown on places where the sod is becoming bare.
The practice of laying down land to pasture is common ill all farming regions, and often forms a part of the crop rotation. Pastures on cultivated land intended for only a few years are called temporary pastures, and those for a long series of years permanent pastures. In starting pastures on cultivated land the first and most im portant requisite is a good condition of the soil. The kinds of soil best adapted for pastures are loams and clays, while loose, sandy. and gravelly soils are entirely unsuitable in this connection. Before the land is seeded down the soil is brought to the best possible condition of cultivation and fertility. and if the natural drainage i- inade quate artificial drains are laid. A high state of fertility is conducive to a luxuriant growth of grass and a rapid formation of a good sod. A
heavy dressing of barnyard manure is well adapted to grass lands, because it not only fur nishes all the necessary elements of plant food. but also has a beneficial effect on the mechanical condition of the soil. It is preferable to lay land down to pasture after a hoed crop like corn. which leaves the soil in a good condition of filth and comparatively free from weeds. The methods of preparing the soil and sowing the grass seed are the same in pasture-making as in laying down land to grass for a meadow (q.v.).
The choice of grasses depends largely upon the conditions of climate and soil. On ordinary soilin regions where the rainfall is generally -MB dent. Kentucky blue grass 1 Pon ?Isis). Cana da blue grass ( Pon corn pressa I tall fescue (F/ s taco •^1atinr). red top (.1grost is culgaris) per ennial rye grass ( Lonna( prrennel . orchard grass (Lw ylis gfouucrwua1s and red and white clover form a good mixture for pastures. Red top. alsike clover, creeping bent grass I stalonifera), and perennial rye grass are grown in wet pastures, and red fescue (Fest urn ruhral red top, Kentucky blue grass, and white clover in pastures on light sandy soils. In the Southern States. Bermuda grass (Conodon Dart)don.. carpet grass plauimfglSt, large water grass ( Paspalum diletatunt1, and Texas blue grass (Poo o Tacit al •. an- laid p.. t ire grasses. Timothy 1'1,14 urn ',rah a., • . an xccl hay grass. i- often -own r pa-for. but it 1- rather subjeet to injur? bt the tr.i up urn of stock and close grazil,z. al 41 it •14, a goOd turf. I rail., tip. I I. r leadows. in selecting gra--, - t cies are sought which furnish - 11111 f green forage throughout the seas, n. I 7/ I,/ 1/( racy pastures annual and hien/1141 // 0., and short-lived grasses are snitable. Mit f r vent pasture- perennial and goo/I turf-t, aking species are required.
Slany farmers grow forage crop. near ii.. it pastures to feed to the -tuck durin till of drought, to prevent injur being dn/ /? too close cropping. The dropping- of the -.to, k are not snilicient to keep lip the fertility it t..
and hence. as mentioned above. top dressing- of barnyard inatune and cowmen sal ierti itet- are applied to supply the The ./f cattle ought to be broken up and —.atter, .1 over the ground. Harrowing a pasture nu t 11.
spring admit, heat :lid light into 1.1 ..111 Mid favors the growth of grasses and le mo•irools plants. 11eeds should never he allowed to grow in pastures, and the coarsest and rank. st grass should be !mimed once or twice eaeli par iZe seeding old pastures is ii-lially not so profitable as breaking and working up sod and growing a few crops before the land is again seeded down. An of pure water in pastores i prime fleet'--ity. A few t re( s on the h -t p, flits where the stook can Mid cool shade are of gre•t benefit. A paddock i. a -mall pasture generally located near the barns. ( 4.1111,are SIKAnow.