What plants are needed for a really good pasture? Just curious as I have no land, but will be useful in a few years I hope.

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), March 12, 2000

Answers

Orchard grass, clover, timothy

-- Bosco (Bosco10_@excite.com), March 12, 2000.

A really good book about "grass farming" is Malabar Farm by Louis Bromfield, published 1948 by Harper. He tells about taking a farm that had been nearly destroyed by over-use and building up the pastures and fields. There's a lot more in it, but real good basics on rejuvenating the soil. I found a copy at our local library.

-- Peg (jnjohnsn@pressenter.com), March 13, 2000.

Thanks. One of the things I want to know is what are the herbs and such that they say should be in a good pasture. annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), March 13, 2000.

Probably not real helpful to topis but I just saw a PBS program on Louis Bromfield and Malabar Farm not long ago. Interesting.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), March 13, 2000.

Annette- He talks a lot about what kinds of grasses he wanted in the fields and how he went about getting them to the right condition. We have a couple of small clearings that were once nice fields. I can hardly wait to get started on them. First things first, though. (My husband had to have a driving range!) He works hard- he earned it.

-- Peg (jnjohnsn@pressenter.com), March 13, 2000.

Check with your county extension agent for specifics. I have had good luck with the advice of my feed store owner who is also a cattle farmer. It's his bread and butter to know what grasses/legumes are good for the area, as well as fertilizer needs, planting times and such. Have a soil test done so that you aren't throwing your money away on seed when you might need lime as well. Good luck

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), March 17, 2000.

Apparently, Malabar Farm is being reprinted, as I found it available in paperback by searching in Amazon. Published byWooster Book Co.; ISBN: 1888683848. List price $14.00, Amazon has it at $11.90.

-- J.E.Froelich (firefly@nnex.net), March 18, 2000.