The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-05-15
Agricultural.
Meadows that Give but scanty Crops

Meadows that yield less than ton of hay
per acre should not be tolerated " at all a,
ALL" Those which yield one and half O,
| of proper ambition or enterprise will be con-
tented until he makes his meadows yield
larger crops than the highest Just named.-
Much larger crops are produced, as those
who have read the account of Major Dickl-
sons farm in our volumes of last year. have
had an opportunity of knowing and while
he and others are obtaining from their
meadows crops of grass which are equal to
three and even more tons OF hay per acre,
how can farmers of any proper spirit of ambl.
ton and enterprise rest contcnted until they
have done everything within the limits Of
their knowledge and power to bring up
their grass lands to somewhat similar
We are well aware and willing to acknowledge
| that without the means of irrigation and
some other favoring circumstances which
as large as Major Dickinson's cannot be
secured: but if the high ann of coming as
near as possible to his uncommon averages
in the production of grass and hay were to
be kept constantly before the eye, and if this
in searching for more and more knowledge
through observing and experimenting, by
good Judgment, and by perseverance in efforts
TO reach this aim, we can see no reason why
this uncomrnonly high rate Of productiveness
might not be approached gradually from year
10 year, rs the knowledge Of ho,c to do it,
and the means of doing it, come by degrees
into the possession OF those making the
attempt.
The foregoing considerations are submitted
manly for the purpose of kindlins desire
and determination to do better than the
bulk Of farmers seem contentcd to do, and
of awakening an ambition to get up as near
as possible to the heights of excellence in
agricultural skill and success. which have
been reached by the foremost Of the farming
fraternity.
Taking it for granted that such deter.
mina,on and such an ambition, have aroused
energies which had heretofore been dormant.
we propose to make few suggestions which
may assist. not those who have already
entered upon career of improvement in the
management of their meadow and pasture
lands, but those who have just formed a
determination so to do
|. Our first suggestion to such, and to all
who are dissatisfied with the scanty crops
which they obtain from their grass, is this
Endeavor TO discover the cause or causes Of
the mfertility Of which you complain, OF
which you would remove. There may be toe
much stagnant water, or the ground may be
hard or baked from stock trehdng and poach-
ing it when wet, Or it may be hide bound
or the grasses may have been injured by
being gnawed down too close in autumn OF
spring, or they may be suffering from want
of sufficient nutriment in the soil, much more
having been taken from it in the crops than
has been returned to il in manurial applica-
tons of any kind. You may not be able to
determine exactly to which of these or other
causes the scantness of your crops may be
owing: but you must get as near as possible
to the true cause, for until the causes of an
evil. whether it be disease of body Or social
suffering, or agricultural defect, are asccr-
tanned and removed, there can be no right
and successful method Of cure devised or
adopted.
2. The next STEP after asccrtaining the
most probable causes of tie infertility which
you would cure, is the application of the
remedies most appropriate to the particular
condition. Thus, if it should appear to be
chiefly owing to feeding your meadow too
| close in autumn and sprlng-whlch is cause
of scanty crops more frequently, perhaps,
than is commonly supposed then the treat
ment to be adopted is very plainly indicated.
Let all your stock be kept off your meadow
both early and late in the season. and espe-
cially let sheep and horses be kept off, for
they gnaw closer to the roots than cows and
cattle. Again, if the sod is hide bound.
narrowing or dragging will be the appropriate
method of treatment Bat if want of plant
food is the principle cause, then give top.
dressing of what seems most needed. If you
are at loss to determine what ferti liZer
would be best, try to get light upon this
subject by applying ashes on one plot, bone
dast on another, muck or barn yard manure
on third, and so on. Thus you will find
out what it will be best TO do next year.
Country Gentleman.