The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-07-27
Aqruultural.
RENoVATING PASTURES.

The way to make more and better herbag'
grow in cur pastures is something that mos
farmers are anxious to end out. We hay,
hundreds Of acres Of land called pasturage
en- which no grazing animals, not even goats
can obtain such support as will enable them
90 yield their owners profit. We do not
think IL an ehject to attempt the keeping Ol
stock on the poorest Of this land, under any
circumstances. Ii will not pay to imEeOve
it. Some persons seem TO think that sheep
may be kept to advantage oa the hungry
sands Of Cape Cod. We think such tracts
could more proftably be devoted to the growth
OF pine wood. /,
But we must have some pasturage, and
there are lands which may he devoted to this
purpose adyautageously. We cannot give
such an exact description Us will indicate, In
advance, in all cases, what soils will pay Tor
Improvement in reference 10 this object. In
MANY cases, lands which formerly produced
very good grass now produce much less
quantity of poorer quality. The causes OF
chi. decline are various, and peshars all OF
them are not understood. Some oi the most
prominent are thosc:
1. There Is more stagnant water in the
soil than formerly. When the land was first
cleared from the forest, the roots OF trees
tended 10 conduct the water in the earth ;
md after the roots docayed, the spaces they
had occupied in the soil formed channels for
the descent Of water. This would continue
some time, till, by gradual consolidation
from the tread of animals and other causes
the soil and suhsoil become more impcr'i-
Gus.
9. In some Instances, from the slow de-
scent Of water into the earth, or its being
retained near the surface, mineral substances
are deposited which are injurious 10 vegcti-
tisu, aud at the same time increase the OBJ
struction to the discharge Of water. The
.hsrd-pau," rs il is called in some parts oi
this country, and "mqor-band" in England,
will be recognized As producing this efeet.-
The earth becomes cemented by precipita-
tion Of iron with, in some instances, other
substances.
J. In consequence Of the check TO the
discharge Of water from the soil, the better
kinds of hcrbage arc liable to be winter
killed-they are shove out, As the farmers
say, by the frost-the expansion produced
10y the freezing of the 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
Is, wild plants, shrubs and trces have sprung
MP, which have still further checked the
growth Of grass.
s. II is probable that the soil has become
actually exhausted, in some Instances, of
some of the elements essential for grass. The
most Important oi these arc probably aka
Lies and phosphstes.
Such are some Of the causes Of the dcteri-
Grafton Of pastures. We may now consider
some Of the remedies The first is drainage.
or cours, il is only particular class Of soils
that would BE- benefited by drainage; but
wherever the conditions mentioned under the
frat and second Of the above heads are found,
this Is the proper remedy. The operation
will he attended with considerable expense
IL some cases. 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 Oyerbalanee
the cost. But trials may be made without
much expense that will afford guide. Make
few drains, OF tiles OF stones, not less than
two and half feet deep, in such places rs
seem 10 need them most, and when they have
been in operation year or two their effect
will be sufficiently obyious. If.the wild veg
citation declines, and more nutritious plants
increase and thrive, drainage Is the needful
thing. Still, the full effects cannot b. told
till sufficient time has elapsed to showwhat
changes will take place. Carrying away the
water will let the air into the soil, and this
will decompose the substances which to the
moro valuable kinds Of plants are unwhOle-
some-as the compounds Of iron above men,
TONED, acids, etc. But in some instances il
may be necessary to sow the sceds of the
grasses II is wished to Introduce. and we must
wait till the new crop Is fairly established
before we can know fully how 1t will sue
cecd.
Bushes may be destroyed by moving; in
many cases Il is the only way they can be de-
sroyed. Much pasture land Is 50 stony that
u cannot be ploved and II IL could be, Il
Is not likely that Il would be benefited for
grass. Its the testimony Of many farmers
that our bill pastures are better without
plowing they were generally brought into
grass in the first instance without plou;n.
and IL has been found that when the srs,
sward has been broken and the surface ~.
versod in position, 50 good and permaneu, a