Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-06-01
AGRICULTURAL.
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.

A correspondent of the Prairie Farm
er communicates the following:
BY old grass land is meant that which
has remained a great lumber of wear,
without being molested by the plough
Although branches of husbandry afford
room for more successful cultivation
than the breaking up of old grass
land, yet it generally so happens that
those so engaged, seldom gain much
profit to themselves, or convey any ben.
eft to the land under their manage.
ment, and the imperfect mode of cul.
ture often practiced, when old land is
to be plowed. 1t is indeed well known
that many fields of such land have been
much injured in consequence of the
pillow being nsed-which was entirely
owing to the omission of the most
proper mode of destroying the aborig-
inal inhabitants.
Flowing the land at proper intervals
will never reduce the value of any land,
| provided the management in the inter
i'm is well performed. land which has
lain a considerable time in the grass.
is, in every situation, brought with diff
ticulty into a proper, arabic state-be-
cause the roots of the natural grass re-
tain such hold of the soil, that artifi-
| cial plants cannot thrive or prove pro-
| ductive until the former are completely
exterminated. This difficulty prevails
IN different degrees-accOrding to the
nature of the soil cultivated-ior upon
soils of a light or mellow nature, grass
roots may be destroyed with but little
trouble, and corn crops gained for a
number of years at a much less expense
than is practicable upon soil of clayey
nature, and retain the moisture. Such
land hardly pays for cultivation the first
year and needs drainage-at the start
and though crop of corn may be much
more easily raised on some soils than
on Others--yet no soil whatever can he
successfully restored to grass in suit
able manner without beng completely
summer-fallowed or sufficiently cleaned
by fallOw crop, according to the ma
ture and other circumstances.
1t is from neglecting these radical
operations that the conversion of grass
land to iillage so often proves injurious
TO the Occupier. No kind of soil re-
quires to be Oftener renovated by the
plough than clay, especially if it be of
a thin nature. The best grass is al
way obtained IN the first year after be-
ing sown down, while the roots are
creeping upon the surface and not OBJ
structed by the poverty or sterility of
the subsoil. Rich clays will progress
sively improve, while kept in grass,
though III an inferior degree to those
soils of less obstinate nature: hence
the great prOpriety of exercising alter
nate husbandry upon clayey soils; In
other words, of ploughing them often
and restoring them to grass. When
grass land of a clayey soil is converted
TO tiliage it has been said the first crop
should be oats, and the reason assigned
Is that there Is no other grain that for
ages so well, and consequently makes
greater return of produce at the outset.
When the surface is obstinate, and the
natural grasses unsubdued, TO produce
full crop of both good blowing and
plentiful harvesting IS necessary. The
plough shOnld go deep and lay the fur
row well over; it should be narrowed
the way it is plOwed till the surface is
In a measure broken. Many farmers
make a great mistake In not narrowing
their broken-up land half enough;
hence it makes hard hoeiug ana the
boys complain of aching shoulders; a
kind father should make farm labor as
pleasant as possible-let sunshine dis
pei the gloom of life.
SHEEP SHEARING TnIE.-The annual
discussion as to the best time TO shear
sheep is now progressing and the pros
and cons fer early and late shearlng are
being given. III sheep are sheared too
early they will suffer from cold nights
and chilly storms that ensue. If they
are sheared too late, the ticks will null
tiply and the sheep shed their wool,
which IS not only loss to the present
clip, but considered unfavorable to a
thick, full start for the succeeding
fleece, etc, etc.
Doubtless both extremes shOuld be
avoided, but to find the proper means
is the problem, aud it Is difficult one,
inasmuch as 1t cannot be reduced to
any certain date. It depends upon the
latitude of the locality and about as
much upon the different seasons of the
same locality. The middle of May in
Wisconsin, would be as early as the
middle of April wOuld be in Kentucky
Wisconsin, the middle of April is as
late ms others are In the middle of May,
and variation of two weeks is no I'M
common thing, aud between the tenth
of May and the first OF june, Judgment
must decide In view of the comparative
backwardness or fowardness of the
season.
The facilities the farmer may possess
or lack fOr\ housing his flock in a cold
storm, should also be taken into nc
count. Shear when you will, your
sheep will be exposed to take cold not
only from change of weather, but from
the change of clothing, just as "a man
is liable 10 take cold when he first
leaves off his under shirt and drawers,
whether he sheds them in May or June.
Quite as much depends upon housing
sheep through the first cold storm or
two after shearing, as upon the partic-
ular time the operation is performed.
| If yCu have not the means of sheltering
| well, you ought not to keep sheep,
but if you do, you should be little
| behind your neighbor who has such
facilities and Is careful to use them.
The most perpiexing thing about the
variableness of the seasons, is 30 know
when to WASH sheep, as it is desirable
to shear as soon after it as the wool is
we'll dried. But in this matter also,
We must be governed by the general
prospects of the season, and run the
risk of after delay from an unexpected
cold snap, In seasons as late as the
present; however, We may go into it at