, 1860-08-31
AgficpItufs.
Pasturing Moving Lands.

- slo NSeNpotoE " Mhrcn %, mr.. Nlcn'
ols, Of Stamford, Conn.,, gives his experience
In pasturing meadows, which does not tally
with the theory Of some writer's, nor with
the opinions Of many who do not write. II
has ever been considered by some very good
farmers, that meadows, in order to produce
good crops Of hay and hold out well in grass
without often plowing and re-seeding, should
never be fed By farm.stOck, either spring or
autumn; while others have allowed fall feed.
ing, but condemned spring feeding as abso.
lutely ruinOus to the after crops Of hay.
Nov here is . case that somewhat contra.
diets these opinions. Mr.. Nichols two lots,
alike In soil, treated alike in the seeding,
The aaer-growth Of one fed of for success.
sion Of years, that Of the other left to decay
on the surface; and yet the reverse of the
common expectation Is found to be the
result The lot fed Increases in yield over
the other and holds out longer. Il is posi-.
bic, and think quite probable, that the
trees on TIE one not fed, Of which be speaks,
my in part account for this disparity Of the
er0ps e thef would take from the susie.
nance Of the soil and shade the surface !;
though he says the trees were young and
occupied only q part Of the lot yet they
have to be sustained, and would draw both
from the soil and the atmosphere If they
made any growth &C all. Though | have
never been 8 stickler for the non.feeding Of
moving lands, ] have favored the opinion
that they would continue longer In moving
BY not feedingj that Is, produce good crops
Of hay some yeafs longer by letting the
r1rITnn ~ nanr1u fka sv-es,,,I . ekaG "a r.. .
tendency 70 keep the turf or sWard open
and loosss and there would not be that bind
Ing out q We farmers term Il, which close
feeding Of meadOWs for several years viii in.
duos fsFr
There Is danger, however, In having thick
growth Of grass upon the surface in seasons
when The meadoE-moles or ground-mice are
plenty it adordse shelter for them IN the
winter, 70 house and breed in, and rich
horbage for their sustenance; they will make
their paths IN al directions, increase rapidly,
grow &c n1d flourish, and eat and kill out the
rootlets Of allthe bet grasses. This my
h.ve been The case in some Of the winters
while NJ. Ms unfed lot has been in mead
ovs though bis tree, II apple or other fruit
tres, would have been likely 10 have shared
he sama fate, unless specially protected BY
banking up with earth or aOms other cover
ing near ibo ground. When these destruc.
tive vormin are known 10 be on the increase
N ~ autumn, L i always The safest 70 feed
our gfass lands closely e . protection
againsl their daprodations.
Like most other operations IN agricultural
pursuits, his feeding or non-fseding ouI
moving land. depends upon conditions and
nnodlicallons. There can be no general
rule I0r every locality and all kinds Of soils.
IN most cases he gain By feeding is proba-
bly, groaler than not to feed. The after math
i worth more 70 our domestic animals IN in
clrasIng their growth and putting them IN q
GII'n1 condition for the winter than al L
VII add &c tho soil By leaving it to decay
thereon. The droppinas Of the animals
While they are cropping this feed are no
small remuneration for what ls taken Of,
pariicularly Il the stock are Of the best kind
for enliching he land. Lambs, Just taken
IRON their DANA undergoing TIE woaning
process or any other sheen. are the best as
lhoI 1pr1ad or scaltor their manure much
more evenly over he surface than other ami
m''1 Hor.o1 are The poorest icg enriching
- 'IIl. and leave he Smallest return for
uh.l l1ey take oH for Thy crop closer than
c1II|e' equally % with sheep. and the ma
AlI. hey leave & ne poorest Of tie three.
NoI.t lands vim bear closer feeding when
y maadow than dry ones allnvlons gener-
nllI arc never injured By Il though they
nay need taking up and re-soeding onener
tA1n When never ed. ! keep But little
olh1r 1lock be1idos sheep, and my practice
hll BEN 10 Iol lhom crop The meadows
c'1|1 m Ilo IaII, and again when The young
11'|1 lIol|l n he spring. and before he
summer pastures are sufficient 70 sustain
them they take smother run through the
mo1duTa, aided By food Of grain once q
day and what hay they win eat by being
yarded al night This range thew have for
two o. three ueoks--Ionrer or shortor a
he 1clsDu may Be for bringing forward the
ro1.u1c1-1nd aa = matter Of course n
ll'ls 20 cIo.1|y I'd he autumn previous,
I1T okc every lprout Of young grass as L
appclrl l1arIng r1ihor dry and sterile ap-
pc1Ia1c1 upon he meadows towards tho
Illl of April, uhon he nocks are removed
% Ih1 pastures or ths summer. do NOT
pIlllnd Ihal his spring feeding n all soa.
sonsis . positive advantage 10 TIE nitsr
clop Of by, OF hat Il may not under oer-
tain riroamanne1r lelsaa tie crUp; c e ne.
c111'ly with ne. but say that neither the
.|| or spring feeding, or both together, Les.
cen he strength or capacity Of tks soii for
production. Il may bind out sooner and
ped taking np. bui he pigOr and power
81 producliol has been enhanced b this
I.1l'11 a'Ih dheep over what Il would have
brni0 haye had on lis scoond growth len 70
70. npon he surface from year 70 ysar.
I'1Iruo that IN dry summers, Ike he
|rIl one & would have been better 70 have
al1ldel he spring feeding. but IN vet sas.