Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-09-19
The vermont state Fair.
nIscussLoNs UPON GRAss.

OTueT 81 elghl U CloCh W hon' 0onh
Gregory OF Mortified, President OF the
Society. The subject announced for the
evenings discussion was "Grsss-the
bes, method of promoting its growth
ana when It should be cut"
He y Stafford OF Springfield who was
to hsv4 opened The discussion, was alb
sent, a, william r. Sanford OF orwell
opened the discussion by alluding to
the Importance OF the matter under con-
sideration TO the farmers OF Vermont:
He expressed himself as in favor OF cut
ting grass early as a general rule. His
own experience had not been favorable
to the use OF top dressing as means OF
promoting the growth OF the grass crop.
Crosby Miller Of Pomfret was the last
OF the speakers who had been appointed
to conduct the discussion, and his re-
marks related to his own practical ex-
perience, He had tried both blowing in
and top dressing, and with very crafty
ing results He thought that top dressing
should be applied early In the fall, so
that its strength might be washed into
the ground by the fall rains. 1t was OF
no use to plow in without using manure
literally, and he thought that the best
advice to be given to farmers was, to in
crease their product OF manure in every
way possible. Manure would certainly
make grass grow, and II man had a
good quantity OF manure and used 1t
upon his grass land, he would certainly
have good crops Of grass. He thought
that the Vermont farmers generally cut
their grass too late to secure its full nu-
tritive power. Ripened grass was no
better for food for cattle than Eastwood.
he thought the great value Of moving
machines, horse.rakes, &c, was to en-
able farmers to get through their haying
quicker, and thus secure the whole crop
when it is just in its prime. He gener-
ally seeds down in the spring with spring
wheat, sowing twelve quarts Of herds
grass and three or four pounds Of clover
seed to the acre.
Nathan Cushing OF Woodstock, thought
that manures ought not to be plowed in
very deeply. He deprecated the custom
among farmers of cropping land several
times before seeding it down to grass.
Two crops only should be taken from
land after 1t has been broken up, before
seeding it for grass. He had tried an
experiment this year, in blowing in the
heavy second crop upon one OF his lots,
sowing it with wheat and seeding it
down to grass. He expected a good
crop Of wheat and good succession OF
grass crops. In speaking OF the various
fertilizers recommended for use, he said
he thought Vermont farmers could make
fertilizers cheaper than they could buy
them. He had used phosphates with
good success, but the cost of transport
ing was 80 great that Vermont farmers
could not afford to buy and use them.
There will be no trouble in raising good
crops of grass II the land is not cheated
out OF its proper food. Feed the land
well with manure, and good crops ofhay
will surely result. He agreed with Mr.
Miller, that grass ought to be cut earlier
than it usually is. In seeding down hi
generally used about seven or eigh
quarts of herds grass, and as many
pounds of clover seed to the acre. HI
regarded wheat as better than rye Il
SOW with glass, because wheat will
shade the ground less. He thought tina
in sowing oats with grass farmers mad
mistake in sowing too many. TIVE
bushels and a half OF oats per acre ar
Better than three and half, and he ha(
raised very good crops OF oats from onl,
two bushels Of oats per acre for seed.
Lawrence Brainard, Jr., Of st. Adams
thought that meadow grass lands shout,
have good top dressing in the fall, an
should not be fed by cattle or sheel
either in the fall or spring. he believes
that early cut hay was the best. Fo
market purposes herds grass was tn
best crop to raise, and for feeding sheer
amixture OF herds grass and clover wa
preferable. Twelve quarts OF herd
grass and six or eight pounds of Glove
forms the quantity otseed per acre whicI
he had found most valuable.
C. q. Hubbard Of Springfield believe
that farmers could produce their ow
fertilizers better and cheaper than the
could buy them. ANY farmer can yer
much increase his fertilizers by prope
economy Of the materials that are avail
able upon his own land for this pun
pose. The great trouble with farmers IL
that they waste their fertilizers.
L. T. Tucker OF South Royalton sal
that he commenced haying this yea
July l, with the intention OF gettin
through by the Goth, The weather de
layed him so that he did not finish unit
the last of the month. The crop suffel