Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-08-30
Renovating Pastures.

The way to make more and better heritage
grow in our pastures, is something that most
farmers are anxious to find out. We have
huudreds Of acres Of hand called pasturage,
on which 10 grazing animals not even goats
can obtain such support as will enable them
to yield their owners Il p oft. We do rot
think it an object to attempt the keeping of
stock on the poorest Of this land, uuder ANY
circumstances 1t will not pay to improve
il Some persons seem to thi k that sheep
may be kept to&dvanagcon the hungry sands
Of Cape Cod. We think such tracts could
more proftabIy be devoted to the growth Of
pine wood.
But we must have some pasturagc, and
there are lands which may be devoted to this
purpose adyantaaeousIy. We cannot give
an exact description as will indicate, in adj
vance, in all cases, what soils will paw for
Improvement in reference to this object. In
many cases, ands which formerly produced
very good grass now produce a much less
quantity poorer quality. The causes of
this decline are various, and perhaps all Of
tn IN are not UNDERSTOOD Some Of the most
prominent are these:
|, There is more stagnant water in the
soil than formerly Wbeu the land was first
cleared f.om the forest, the 70 is Of trees
tended to conduct the water into the eat tn ;
and after roots decayej the spaces they had
occupied in the soil formed channels for the
descent of water. This would continue for
some time, till by gradual consolidation from
the tread Of animals and other causes, the
soil and subsoil became more impcyious.
/ g. In some instances, from the SLOW dcs.
cent Of water, into the earth. or its being re-
tanned near the surface, mineral substances
are deposited which arr injurious to yrgcta-
ton, and at the same time increase the obstruc
ton to the discharge OF water. The hard.
pan" as it is oale in some parts Of this
country, and " moorband in England, will
be recognized us prod ICING this effect. The
earth becomes comentel by precipitation Of
iron, with, in some instances, other substan.
ces.
3. In consequence of the CHECK to the dis
charge Of water from the soil, the better
kinds Of hcybago are liable te be winter killed
they are hove OUT as the farmcs say
by the lrost-tho expansion produced by tho
freezing Of water in the soil, breaking the
roots, which, being exposed on the top of the
ground, die
4. In consequence of the decline of grass
os, wild plants, shrubs and trees have sprung
up, which have still lufther checked the growtf
of grass.
5. 1t is probable that the soil has become
actually exhausted, in some instances ofsomt
of the clements essential tor grass. The most
important Of these are probably aIkalies and
phosphates.
Such are some of the causes Of deteriora.
ton OF pastures. We may now consider some
OF the remedies. The first is drainage. Oh
course, it is only particular class of soils
that would be benefited by drainage; but
whenever the conditions mentioned under the
first and second Of the above heads are found
this is the proper remedy. The operation
will be attended with considerable expense il
some instances particularly on hard, stony
land, like some of our New England hills
and actual trial only can show whether the
value of the improvement will ovor5alancC
the cost. But trials may be made without
much expense that will afford guide. Make
few drains, Of tiles or stones, not less than
two and a half deep, in such places as seem
to need them most, and when they have been
in operation a year or two, their effect will be
sufficiently obvious. If the wild vegetation
declines, and more nutritious plants increase
and thrive, drainage is the needful thing.
Still the full effects cannot be told tiIla suffi-
cient time has elapsed to show what changes
will take place. Carrying away the water
Twill let the air into the soil, and this will de.