Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-08-22
aarienltaral.
WHAT STOCK MOST ENRICHEs PAST
a ERESf

EhEsf
IT is generally accepted as fact that
TIE soil under pasture grows fertile
When land is plowed and cropped and
aud pasture forms part OF sys-
tematic rotation. the soil under grass re-
cuperates in power to grow graiu. This
is due to several causes, prominent among
which is the thick turf formed and plowed
under, thus supplying quantity Of ma
nure for the succeeding crop IT neid
we're left in grass for loDg time, aud all
the growth allowed to rot on the ground,
we see no reason why the soil would not
increase in fertility SO long as this prac-
tice was continued. But were the grass
removed in the form Of hay each year,
and no compensation made. no practical
farmer would contend that the soil grew
richer when subjected to such treatment
for o long time Land, in grass, then, be-
comes rich in proportion as the growth of
vegetable matter from it-as roots, stems,
leaves and seeds then returned for ma
nure. r. Fa,
Land is enriched by pasturing for the
production of grains in two ways; the
formation of sod to be rotted for manure,
and the deposition Of the solid and liquid
excremeuts of the stock. 1t is important
for the grain farmer to consider the kind
of stock which, feeding on his pastures,
will enrich them most. There is, perhaps,
not much practical difference in the
amount Of manure made by various an-
imals on the same pasture; but the form
IN which it is deposited, and the habits oil
stock in choosing their resting places ought
to be we'll considered. Horses are the
very worst fertilizers of pasture; they are
very close feeders, and they delight to
Craze the SUBMITS of knolls, and all spots
where the heritage is short and sweet. On
such spots they are continually feedlng,
yet they manure them very little The
observer will find their droppings mostly
in rich hollows, and places where the herb
age is rank and coarse, showing that the
soil is already fertile above the average Of
the field. t's.'
In this respect cattle have not the same
instinct as the horse, and they are neither
so close nor so dainty feeders, but the OBJ
lection holds against them, as the horse,
that the manure is not scattered sufficient
ly for the good of the land. This is, in
deed, the chief objection to employing hor-
ses or cattle to enrich land by pasturing.
If the grass is turned into hay and fed to
them in the yard or stable the manure
therefrom may all be saved and applied
jpdioiously But this course involves much
labor.
In the field every observant farmer knows
that the droppings of horses and cattle
seem to fertilize the soil but little when
their bulk is consilcled and the best ef
fects are Invariably seen not from the solid
bat from the liquid nauures that fall on
the field. In pasturing cattle and horses
we conclude that not not more than one
part in q hundred receives any manure
while the ninety.ninc other parts are i'm.
poverished as much as though the grass
were cut and removed in the form of
hay.
Without doubt steep are the very best
stock with which to Zurich land by past
u,ing,- They range over the whole field
and refuse hardly anything Their ma.
nure Is scattered in the very best form it
could be applied as a topdressing. If
they frequent the kuolls where the grass
issseet they also enrich them, and they
choose for their resting places at night
and'therefore fertilize, the highest part Of
the field. If desirable flock may, with
little trouble, be nightly folded on the
poorest spots of the 6eld. In hot weather
they will frequent the shade of trees, but
from such places the accumulated manure
is easily scraped up and distributed to
other parts. And the farmer who is main.
ly grain grower will find no stock more
profitable and convenient for all his pur.
poses than sheep. .o' .a.s
.ttse #Ltt. s.a - .t.HE f.. s-I.... g a