Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-09-11

shMANEN1 10 Olben assert
ed that the older pasture becomes the more
valuable it becomes hat land may be psstur-
ed for an indefinite period, and the grass con-
stsntly increase in richness aud abundance.
Mr.. Willard, in his letters from England, states
that such is the opinion entertained by the far
mers in come localities in that country, and
pastures that have been grazed hundred years
without deteriorating are the evidence with
which they support their assertions. We re-
greet having no more definite information about
these pastures; the yield, qualify and variety
of grasses, as compared with that of bali a
century ago the kind of soil, and the amount
of top-dressing they receive, If it is a fact
that land may be laid down to grass, constantly
pastured without any manure except the drop
pings or the stock, the quality of the feed i'm
proved, and its yield maintained or increased
for an indefinite time, then some of the sound
est theories of the best agricultural writer's are
upset, and the stock grower and dairy farmer
may deem theirs the only husbandry which
takes from the land without improverishing it.
But we are not prepared to believe that such
is the fact. lfit be, why so much lkfabout
renovating, op-dressing and fertilzing the old
pastures Of Eastern dairy regions Of this coun-
tryi Why should the W es,ern prairies, that
blowing and seeding; Their grasses, if this
theory be correct. should be the thriftiest and
most aromatic of any pastures on the CONT
nent. Which fats cattle best, gives the richest
butter and cheese--blue grass, red tops, white
clover; or the wild coarse prairie grasses1-
The produce Of pasture is grass. Cattle con-
sumo it. Out oft milk and meat are produce
ed. and these are removed from the land. The
excrements Of the stock replace but part,
and this part is usually half wasted in the air.
In pasturing, them there is a constant drain on
the soil, and how can this fail, in the course
of time, to impoversh it, if the elements ne
cessary to the thrift of the fine rich grasses
caused them to give place to those rsnker and
grosser? 1t is obvious that without more fer
tilizing material is furnished the land tnan the
stock supplies while on the grass, pastures,
after limited period, will deteriorate.
When land is newly seeded, large crops OF
grass are obtained, if it be in good condition.
After two or three years the yield diminshes.
The sown grasses have reached their highest
perfection, and henceforward gradually give
place to the natural grasses, the germs Of which
are in the soil. Frequently the fret grasses
die out faster than the succeeding ones come
in. Hence the pasture rapidly becomes poor.
Numerous spots are left almost bare Of her
bage. At this period grain farmers usually
pillow, SOW grain, and reseed. They say the
grass has run out" But if the field is not
disturbed it presently begins to improve the
natural grasses spread and occupy the whole
ground, and the pasture yields as much feed as
when newly seeded. ana Of better quality.
This may continue long Tina the limit de-
pending on the richness Of the soil but the
highest point will at last be reached, sooner in
grain lands than those more patursl to grass,
when the sweet, nutritive grasses will begin to
give place to those coarser in quality, less re-
lshed BY stock, and Of quicker growth and de.
cay. Mean time the soil has accumulated rich
supplies OF food from the decsying different
elements. Grass has not impoverished the soil:
only exhausted its own peculiar food; and the
land is in condition TO grow large crops Of
grain or roots.--haral Nelo Yorker.