Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-11-14

PERMANENT PAsTUREs.-It ia often asserted
that the older . pasture becomes, the moro
valuable it is that land may be pastured for
indefinite period and the grass constantly
increases in richnes, and abundance. Mr..
Willard, in his letters from England, states
that such is the opinion entertained by the
farmers of some localities in that country, and
pa lures that have been grazed a hundred
years without deterioratiug are the evidence
With which they support their assertions.
We regret having no more definite information
about these PASTURES, the yield, quality, and
variety of grasses as compared with that OF
half century ago the kind OF soil, and the
smount of top dressing they receive. If 1t Is
fact that land may be laid down to grass,
constantly pastured without any manure ex-
cept the dropping * of the stock, and the quail
ity of the feed improved AID its yield main
tanned or increased for an indefinite time, then
SOM of the soundess theories of the best Ag-
IIoutural writer's are upset, and the stock
grower and dairy f1rmer may deem theirs the
only specles of husbandry which takes from
the land without impoverishing it.
But we are not prepared to believe that
such s the fact If it be, why SO much talk
about Ienovating, top dressing, and ferlllZ-
ing the old pastures of Eastern dairy regions
OF this coun.ry1 Why should the Western
praifies, that have been grazed for centuries.
ba benefited by pi0ughing ard seeding
Their grasses, if this theory be correct, should
BE- the thritiest and most aromatic Of any
pastures on the continent. Which fats cattle
Dest, gives the most delicious butter and
cheese, bluegrass, red-top. white-cloyer, or
the wild, coarse, prairie grasses? The product
of pasture Is grass cattle consume 1T out
Of 1t mix and meat produced, and these
are removed FROM the land the excrements
of tie stock replace but part, and this part
is usually half wasted IN the air. In pastur-
ing. then, there Is a constant drain on the
soil, and how this fail, IN the curse of
time, to lmpoverish it if the elements neees-
airy to the thrift of the fine, rich grasses,
causes them to give place to those ranker and
grCsser? 1t Is obvious that without more
fertIlIzns material IL furnished the land than
the stock supplies While on the grass pas
lures. after a limited period, will deteriorate.
When land is newly seeded large crops OF
grass obtained if 1t be in good condition.
After two three years the yield dlmnlshes-
be sown grasses have reached their highest
posiec ION, and kenceiorward gradually give
place to the natural grasses, The germs OF
which are 10 the sol. Frequently the tTss
grasses die out faster than the succeeding ones
CONS IL. Hence the pasture rapidly bcc 1mes
poor numerous SPOTS are lett almost bare OF
heritage. at this peli5d good farmers usu-
ally plow, SOW grain. and Te-seed They say
The grass has =. run out" But II the field Is
not disturbed it presently begins to improve ;
the raturai grasses spread and occupy the
xboie ground, and the pasture yields as much
feed as when newly seeded. and that of a bet
;er quality This may continue for long
time, the limit depending on the richness of
the soil, but tie highest point will at best be
Teachet-s0Ouer grain lands ;ban IN those
more natural to grass-when the sweet Dutri-
tive grasses will begin to give place to those
c1areer IN quality, less rellshed by stock, and
quicker growth and decay. Meantime the
soii has accumulated rich supplies of food from
Inc decaying grass roots and other sources, for
a crop demanding diff rent elements Grass
as not impover sled tie soil, only exhaus ted
is own peculiar food, and the land is in con-
dition to grow large crops Of grain or roots
RuraL New Yorkr.