Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-23


and water, which at certain times is deemed
essential to the comfort Of the fat cattle,
and to his own comfort and convenience in
cariing TO and from the barn such large
quantities Of hay, &c. During the day the
coarser forage Of the iarm is mainly led out
in the lower yard TO the cows and youhg
cattle, which run there, and the refuse OF IL
is incorporated with muck by the ireading
Of the cattle. Occasionally in the course
Of the winter a moderate coat of muck is
spread over it, this being deemed better pol.
icy than to put the whole quantity OF muck
that the yard will bear into il at once IN the
fall. Afier planting in the spring, the con
tents of this yard are carried out into heap
for fermentation; il is Immediately supplied
with muck again, aud the cows are yarded
on il over night through the sunmer, ex-
cepting when too wet and miry from heavy
rains, when they are for few days turned
into the upper or dry yard. In tie fall, the
contents are again carried out, md fresh
covering Of muck put in for wirter. The
litter, &c, of the upper yard IS also carried
out in the spring and composted with muck,
in all cases designing to use two parts OF
muck TO one Of manure.
Irrigation. MIR Rice's system OF irrign.
ton is in the highest state Of Perfection
AT the breaking up Of winter quite brook
is formed from the rains and melting Of the
snow. Ii may be siermed surface water
from the adjoining high lands, and proba-
ably its marked effects in increasing the
quantity and quality Of grass may be at.
tributable, in great measure, TO the fact
that il is thus formed, and not a living
stream fed by springs.
A large embankment Of earth has been
thrown up on the lower side Of the swamp,
the other sides being surrounded by higher
lands, and thus large reservoir is made in
to which this temporary stream is conduct
ed, and with which il is filled in March,
aud after, to the depth OF several feet
Gates are constructed in the embankmenl
to draw of this accumulation Of wafer as
wanted for irrigation, and they are also cal
cula,ed for the thorough drainage Of the
swamp. The water is conducted in ditch
e. at different heights, over fifty acres o.
grass land, which lies more or less descend
ing from the swamp The bitches run
across the land at right angles with its de
scent, and the water is taken out Of then
by small outlets, made at suitable distances
in the lower sides, so as 10 flow gently oyeI
the whole land.
The wafer is not lei on to the land Ill
after the frost is out in the spring, on &C
count Of its liability 10, wash holes by get
ting under the frozen ground neither is !
continued on the land AFTER about the mid
die Of June. or when the grass has grow
so as TO cover the ground completely;
continued on longer. the quality Of the ha
is injured. Mr. Rice considers that th'
greatest benefit is derived from the irriga
lion in April and May, on account Of tn
early and vigorous growth it imparts to thu
grass this effect is no doubt increased
greatly from the fact that the temperatur,
of the water is considerably pdrmT b
standing in the reservoir.
Care and Judgment is necessary IN man
aging the irrigation. Mr. Rice frequent
passes over the land when under the pro
cess, and il any part Of 1t is getting over
charged with water, it is taken of, or if an
part is not receiving it portion the same
supplied as soon as discovered. Whe
heavy rains occur during the irrigation,
is stopped for time; the object being nc
TO drown the grass roots at all, but 10 kee
them gently moistened.
The contrast between the irrigated Ian
and the land adjoining, which is above III
highest ditch and cannot be flowed, is yer
striking. The latter, although lying NOR
level, and ofiener plowed aud manured, WI
not cut as much grass by one half as III
former, neither is the quality as fine. tn
irrigated land can be kept in produc,s
moving much longer than other parts Of III
farm TINT have not the benefit of the water
it is occasionally plowed and manuied, hoy
ever, and goes through rotation OF crop
no water being LEI on to any portion th'
may be under a state Of tillage until il
again in grass. The crop Of grass on Il
irrigated land is not affected by any droutl
however severe, that may occur after II
water is taken off,-the land having bee
well saturated, and the grass compleie
covering it, prevents the moisture from eva
Grating. The burden of hay is very heav
and the quality excellent; the tendency
the irrigation being to produce'a thick an
fine bottom.
Seeding to Grass in August.-Mr Ri'
has several acres of grass land too moist
pillow and cultivate in the spring. lie o
tans fine crops of hay from this land
blowing it in August, when light coat
compost is spread on top Of the burrows al
narrowed in; The land is then stocked dow
} TO grass again, without sowing to grain,
: The new seeding is fit for the scythe Il
next season, although later than the o
fields. The process is repeated about eve
fifth or sixth year, or as often as the mo
valuable grasses are supplanted BY wi
> grass. He considers this by far the be
r management of moist soil.
r Improvement Of a light, hungry s''L''
D He has piece OF land rather inconvenleI
ly situated to get a, with manure upon WIN
8 he is trying the following experiment to
. deem il from a state of comparative sierl
iy; it is sowed to rye in the fall, and sioC
ed with clover early in the spring the gr'
is taken off the next harvest, and the nj
q year after, the growth OF clover is pillow
in and the same process repeated. I
!. plan has proved very satisfactory thus {
Q the land yielding more than double the CT
E it did five or six years ago.
= Planting Forea.-Mr Rice had, !
~ vaars aao |, niece of side hill ia paeiuril