Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-08-03

and it would still retain its green color. When
examined. this dried grass consists Of Sc
ries of tubes which, If placed in the water,
will become filed, and assume very much
the same appearance it wore before being
dried. In this form it is more preferred and
relished by cattle than any other; the consti-
tuents oil the grass ARE preserved, and the SUI
gar does not decompose. A third of the
whole soluble matter may be taken up by wa
ter, and on this account the effect of show
ers is injurious. 1t is likewise bleached in
the sun, and, losing its green color, becomes
like straw. Its wax is also removed.
In order to show the system pursued by
the farmers in this vicinity, in the production
of large and profitable grass crops, we give
the details of Mr.. Jones method, who OBJ
tanned gratuity of twelve dollars for his
management in retaining anil cultivating
meadow land This piece of land, located in
the town OF Dover. contained about three
acres; the mud and peat varied from one foot
in depth near the upland, to six feet at the
brook, distant some twenty-five rods, and the
grass that grew upon it in its natural state,
was worth no more than the cost of harvest
ing. The operation of reclaiming was COM
menced in 1889, by cutting large bitches on
each side, from the upland to the brook, and
also between the upland and meadow, to re-
ceive the water that came out from the bank.
In the fall of the same year, when the land
was dry, half an acre was plowed at the cor
ner of the piece, commencing at the upland,
and going as far towards the brook as the
team could be borne. There were many roots
&C., upon the piece, and it did not turn over
very smooth it was then rolled with heavy
roller, and allowed to remain till winter, and
afterwards one hundred and ten loads of
gravclly sand were put upon it, making it
June, when sufficiently dry, it was thoroughly
narrowed the sand well mixed with the soil,
and ten OK cart loads of compost, made one
half Of horse manure, al one half of sandy
loan, applied; after which it was narrowed
again, and sowed with one bushel of oats,hal
a peck of herds grass, half bushel of red
top and four pounds of Western clover seed,
narrowed in. In August, good crop Of
oats and clover was cut. The cost of reclaim
ing this half acre was $3.50. In 1841,
the growth of herds grass and red top was
very heavy, and the quality excellent. 1t
was cut the first week in July, before it was
fully grown, and was estimated at over two
tons to the acre. The second crop WAS cut
about the middle OF September, and was esti-
mated at over one ton to the acre. Compost
OF one-third part stable manure, and two
thirds sandy loam-at the rate Of fifteen OK
cart loads per acre, and spread on, latci in the
autumn, every second year after it was sown
to grass, and the grass continued as heavy
and as good every year as it was the first
year, both first and second crops. In 1913,
the first crop gown on this half acre was put
into the barn apart from the other hay, and
when sold in the spring, it was Iound'to weigh
over twenty-one hundred pounds The re-
nainder of the field was reclaimed by carting
on sand at different times, covering it from
two three inches deep, spreading the mud from
the bitches on the sand and compost of the
same kind, and in the same quantity, as on
the first piece. The crop taken from this the
first three years was equal to that from the
piece that was plowed; and since that time
the natural grass has come in, although the
whole field was MANFRED and treated in the
same way. The whole was mown twice each
year suce it was first sown with grass seed.
- Peoples Journat