Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-22
Aericmltural.
Renovation of Pastures.

Among the objects which should secure
the attention OF farmers in many portions OF
this State Is that of the renovation of pasture
land Hundreds of thousands of acres in this
State where land is most valuable are at this
moment capable Of producing only stinted
amount of coarse and wild gra-s, or else are
covered with the moss. We are aware that
public attention has already been called to
this subject We hear much about great
crops of corn and potatoes, but quite as like
ly as not if we look at the same mans pas
ture it will be almost a barren waste. Many
farmers have a large por ion Of land devot-
ed to pasturage but they are covered with
brushes, of various kinds, with here and there
little patch of good feed which the csttle
and sheep have made for themselves, while
many places which might be more available
for excellent feed by draining, are now a
mere bog. Now we can find this state OF
things in great many towns where one
could not buy the land in the adjacent fields
for one hundred dollars acre.
We have sometimes been surprised 10 see
expensive buildings and we'll cultivated gar
dens, orchards ami fields. and vet within ten
rods of the house this state of things may
be seen just as we have d,s :ribed them. We
can account for it only Of the habits
of our fathers, which have come down 70 US,
and which we have unconsciOusly endured.
But we think there is another explanation.
and one which we think will suggest n rene
dy. The impression has generally prevailed
that a pasture Is injured by cultivating 1t
This no doubt is true in some cases. but we
think not majority Of our pastures. We
would not disturb portion that already pre-
duces good supply Of feed. This would
be likely to be the case where the land is
naturally moist, and where the soil was com
posed largely Of clay vegetable matter
hIrr wi hon n H. uIta Ilx I.-tE pyts n
cultivating it
But the grand difficulty aPprehend lies
here. Farmers are advised To improve thei!
pastures, but the trouble Is where 10 begin
They look over their pastures and find &c
much to do that they do not know where 70
begin 1t is Just the same 10 advise a
man to cultivate his field higher, when II
would demand a fortune TO accomplish it all
at once.
Now our advice il this. Take a piece 81
your pasture land that can be cultivate, not
SO large piece but you can manage IT NJ
mat er if 1t be only One-half acre year,
Remove the rocks, if need be into wall
pillow it up, and If you wan5 to raise a crop
or two, have a temporary, but movable fence
which every good farmer knows how to make
and raise crop of potatoes and oats If VOC
have little manure or plaster. 50 much The
better. Seed it down, and you may have N
ADDITION 10 your pasture ttnu equivalent U
several acres after the old sort Now We
know farmer who spent ten days several
years since in blowing up ten acres OF pas
ture land, and afterwards narrowed it down
and sowed a generous supply of grass
seed. The consequences is, he has n ricf
pasture and good dairy
IT pasture Is low and rocky, cut up the
bushes hardhacks and PUSHES, and give {
chance for feed. Low lands in this dry eli
mate may 10 made the best of pasture land
for stock by proper attention Do not try L
do too much at once, but do little every
year and ere YOU are aware Of it. you vii
have a valuable addition to the real worth 0
your farm.
In many PORTIONS Of the State land Is be
coming more and more valuable The OLD
doctrine that pastures should be let alone l.
an idea that sooner or later must be aban
doned. There is Encouragement in the fact
that piece If worn out pasture, when brck
en- up and painted with potatoes Will yield a
crop of splendid quality, with but little ex-
pcnse, so that Independent, Of the matter Of
improving your pastures, YOU can raise re
munerative crop the first year--Maine F"r-
urer-