Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-10-24
Agricultural.
Our Pasture Lands.

1t IS seldom that our pasture lands receive
much attention, and yet there Is probably nc
part of farming that would pay better for the
time and money spent upon them, il 1t were ju.
diciously applied. We allow many Of them tc
run up to bushes. Others are neglected and
suffered to take care of themselves in some
cases, perhaps, because we don't know what 10
do for them, in others, because the cultivated
lands demand, or seem to demand, all the ma
nure we have ~ spare on the farm.
How different is this from the careful man.
agement Of the Datch farmers who devote their
attention to the DAIRY, especially to the manu-
facture Of cheese. They turn out their COWS to
pasture about the time We do, that IS about the
first or middle OF May The pasture is sepa-
rated from the moving lots by hurdles. After
the grass is cut and the aftermath partly grown,
say about the middle Of August, the hurdles are
removed and the cattle allowed to feed over the
whole, Till the fist Of November, when they ore
put in the barn.
The rate at which they are pastured is FIVE
cows and six sheep on five acres Of land. 1t is
found that the sheep eat down the coarse
grasses which the COWS reject and leave, and
thus help create a close and fine sward. Now
to keep up fertility that will support this
heavy feeding, something must done Tor the pas
lures. After the COWS are taken to the stall,
the bitches, which everywhere intersect the
farms OF Holland, serving for public ways by
means oil Hat boats III summer and skates IN the
winter, are dFedged, the mud and weeds hauled
out upon the banks and piled IN rows from thin
ty to thrty.three feet Longs 10 the form Of u tri-
angular prism, three feet wide and SIX to eight
inches high. This mud is allowed to remain
awhile subject to the iroet. But soon alter the
cows are stalled, the somi.liquid manure is car
ried out to the heaps Of mud, the piles opened
and the manure covered up, and mixed by means
of forks.
In January or February, if the weather per-
mits, or later 10 the Spring, if not this rich
compost s spread over tile pastures, and causes
the utmost luxurIance Of grasses in this moist
climate and rich lands. This is tho general
practice upon the dairy farms OF Holland. The
keeping oil al equal number OF sheep along with
cows, Is common practice also in England, es-
peoially upon dairy farms. IL IL estimated that
the cost Of treating pasture as indicated, is
about seventeen dollars an acre 10 Holland, and
that 1t pays is shown in the fact that the farm
ers OF Holland are generally well of, many oil
them rich, made so by judicious course Of
farming.
We mention this to show that a judicioui
outlay in the improvement Of pasture lands il
the great secret OF success in the great dairy re
gion Of Europe, and to suggest. tia, we can TAX
lesson from them in the management OF ou
own lands. Give them more manure and they I
carry more stock. A good top dressing nov
and then will do them no harm, and they nee
IL Quue as much, in many cases, M the mpwinj
lots. Ii others can spend 50 much and get suc
returns, can't we undertake something OF tn
same PlOighmaa.