Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-01-23

lage, owing 10 tho roots being drawn out
by frost, it by no means follows that such
lands are incapable of producing it. On an
old meadow matted with other grass, there
is bu, little freezing and ifawing of the sur.
face TO draw out the roots of clover, and
the multiplicity of other grass roots tend to
bind them to the soil.
But it requires peculiar management of
meadow land to preserve it in succession
of clover, so as to maintain tho fertility of
the soil, and renew other grass upon it, so
as to increase its burllcn, like to a new
seeding.
By observation l have been enabled 10
discover the circumstances which govern the
production of clover on old meadows, which
might be called an inductive theory of its OPP
Grafton. To secure its benefits, ono gene
raj principle is to be observed, which is, to
always let the rowen clover 90 10 seed, be-
fore cattle are turned on to pasture the af.
ter crop.
The operation is simyly this: suppose an
old meadow that is running down 10 blue
grass. Timothy and othor grasses are dwnd.
ling to light crop, and there are plants OIL
clover scattered over the land, which are
permitted 10 spring up after moving, and
60 TO seed. The seed sheds abroad over
the surface in the fall and winter; in the
spring it comes up early, and is protected
from frosts by the old stubble and moss
which is upon the land. The crop of other
grass being light, gives the young clover a
chance to grow, which consequently brings
the land round to clover; the old grass pre-.
serves the roots during the winter the next
year it is up betimes, and takes possession
Of the ground by getting the start Of other
grass. providing the seeding was thick
enough. If not, it seeds thicker ,hs ney'
fall, clover being on the increase, and thus
it gets possession of the ground, partially
smothering other grass, and killing the moss
The land becomes completely renovated,
but what becomes Of the cloverl The year
il gets possession, there is naturally a grea
deal of seed grown in the all,which scatter:
over the ground in great profusion i, come:
up the next spring; but circumstances are
now very difierent-there being full growl
of other grass, the young clover is near,
smolhered up in turn. The old clover dies
and the soil is further ameliorated by it.
roots, and timothy, red top, and white clio
yer take possession young clover is more
or less killed, until the timothy and rcdtor
dwindle again and thus by proper manage
ment, is clover made tho agent of the far
mer in fertiIizing the soil and increasing hi
crops, without the aid of manuring or pillow.
ing; vegetable matter accumula,cs on tn,
surface, the soil becomes more open ans
friable, and this without manure.
Tueie are many VINO supp0so II necessar,
TO leave the second growth of grass undis
turbed, to rot on the ground; in order t,
preserve the fertility and maintain the pro
ductiveness Of old meadows in grass, wher
top-dressing with manure is not resorted to
But such management is not only unneces
sary, bu, sometimes extremely hnrtful, am
the injury is proportional to the amount lei
untrodden and unfed. If the amount lei
standing, or laying loose upon the surface
be considered, it, in the first place makes
harbor for mice, which will, under cover O
the old grass, intersect the surface of tn
land with paths innumerable, from whic
they cut all the grass that comes in thei
way, more especially the crowns Of the clio
yer plants, of which they seem especial
fond.
In the second place, the covering of oil
grass seems TO operate to shade and snothe
the young grass in the spring, that the mic
may have left, more especially the youn
timothy, and the result is that a meagr
crop Of what is here called spear grass, @
June grass, shoots up through the old gra.
as through brush heap, in lieu Of the goo
burthen of the year before.
l. Always let the rowen clover go to see,
2. If the season be favorable, and tn
second growth large, turn in animals upo
1t as soon as the clover seed begins to shet
in order that it may be sufficiently fed O
and tramped down before winter. olherwi.
NOV il the second time after sufficient see
has been shed upon the ground.
3. If The afier.grow,h be light, so as
left upon the land, it will not endanger II
next crop by shade and mice, do not pa
ture it at all.
Such treatment of meadow land is gene
Gus and good, and that generosity will
returned. Ii does not admit of turning ca
lie upon meadows as soon as they are move
to bite Ihe grass down to the roots, KILN
some kinds and injuring others. Timoll
grass for instance, generally requires Il
balance of the season after moving, in viii
A., to recruit, so as TO put forth its best eflol
the spring following.
The more kinds Of grass there are gro,
ing on the same ground, the greater Il
weight produced and the thicker the growl
Each kind is supposed 10 require some sp
: clfc food not appropriated by the other
therefore il is that old meadows can be ma,
TO produce much more weight Of grass thl
I those newly seeded.
now come TO treat Of top-dressing me
=, dow land with manure, TO promote Il
] growth Of the grass.
{ Where hay is much Of an object of Gu
,ure, and manure can be had, the use of
in renewing tho crop, possesses the follo'
Jog advantages over the clover culture:
. LIST. The crop can be kept more unifor
I in amount by manuring while it is still ia
and before il runs out to blue grass, viii
!, generally precedes the change to clover
! for, in the clover culture. one Of two sll
D crops must be expected in round of fro
e three to six years.
Cd. If the hay is des,inad for mark'
b clover is not as saleable as other grass, a
; il can be kept in minority by pasture
I the meadows close after moving, and 10
dressing with manure.
81. Heavier crops can be obtained be to
Y dro ss,nU than h,, any o,ho. ...,a,, IF ma,