Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-09-11
Meadows.

bali or TWO tohs alO JAY
and no farmer of proper ambition or en-
terprise will be contenled until lie 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 Dickinson's farm
have had an opportunity of knowing I;
and while he, and others. are obtaining
from their meadows crops OF grass which
are equal TO three and even more, tons OF
nay per acre, how can farmers of any
proper spirit of ambition and enterprise,
rest contented until they have done every
thing within the limit of their knowledge
and power, to bring up their grass lands
TO a somewhat similar condition as TO
fertility and productiyeness We are
we'll aware, aud willing to acknowledge.
that without the means OF irrigation, and
some other favoring circumstances which
cannot be commanded by every farmer,
crops as large as Major Dickinson's can
not be secured but il the high aim Of
coming as near as possible to his uncom
mon average in tie production OF grass
and hay, were 10 be kept constantly be-
fore the eye, and il this high aim were
"backed up" by diligence in searching
for more knowledge through observing
and experimenting, by good judgment
and by perseverance in efforts 10 reach
this aim, we can see no reason why thi,
uncommonly high rate OF productiveness
might not be approached gradually from
year to year, as the knowledge of how
10 do it and the means of doing IT, come
by degrees into the possession OF those
making the attempt
The foregoing considerations are sub
mitted mainly for the purpose OF kind
ling desire, and determination, 20 do
better than the bulk of farmers seem
contented to do, and Of awakening an am
bition, TO get up as near as possible t.
the height of excellence in agricultural
skill, and success, which have been
reached by the foremost of the farming
fra ernity.
Taking it for granted that such a de-
termination, 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 a career
of improvement in the management OF
their meadow and pasture lands, but
those who have just formed determi-
natiod so to do.
|. Our first suggestion to such, and tc
all who are dissatisfied with the scanty
crops which they obtain from their grass
is this: Endeavor to discover the
cause CT causes of the infertility Of which
you complain, or which you would re-
move. There may be too much stagnan
water, or the ground may be hard OF
baked from stock treading and poaehins
it when wet, or it may be hide-bound
or the grasses may have been injured by
being gnawed down too close in Auturnr
or Spring, or they may be suffering from
want of sufficient nutriment in the SOL
much more having been taken from l
in crops, than has been returned to it il
manurial applications Of any kind. You
may not be able to determine exactly tC
which OF these or other causes the scan
tiness of your crops may be owing; bu
you may get as near as possible to th'
true cause, for until the cause Of an evil
whether it be disease of the body or socia
suffering, or agricultural defect, are as
certained, aud removed, there can be NJ
right aud successful method Of cure devi
sed or adopted.
9. The next step, after ascertainini
the most probable causes of the inferili
ty which you would cure, is the applica
ton of the remedies most appropriat
to the particular condition. Thus, if
should appear to be chiefly owing t
feeding your meadow too close in Au
tumn and Spring-which is a cause {
scanty crops more frequently, perhaps
than is commonly supposed-then tn
treatment to be adopted is very plainl.
indicated. Let all your stock be kept Of
your meadow, both early and late in tn
season, and especially let sheep and hor
ses be kept off, for they gnaw closer t
the roots than COWS and cattle. Again
it the sod is hide bound, narrowing 0
dragging will be the appropriate metho
of treatment. But if want of plant
food is the principal cause, then give
top-dressing of what seems most need
ed. If you are at loss to determin
what fertilizer would be best, try to &C
light upon this subject by applying ashe
on one plot, bone-dust on another, muc
or barn-yard manure on the third, an
so on. Tins you will find ont what