Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-09-29


CHANGE OF PASTURE FOR CATTLE
This is a subject Of controversy
Some contend that it is better for
stock to have frequent change from
stale to fresh feed during the grazing
season, Its utility will depend some
what upon the varieties of grass which
the pastures contain, and the conven-
lence OF the proprietor. Small fields
are more expensive in fences than
larger ones, because there are more
of them to keep in repair. That item,
therefore, is an inconvenience. a
sudden change of diet with cattle, al
ways, to some extent, damages their
stomachs and bowels. Taken from
shorter and drier grass, and put on
to fresh heritage, is apt to sour them,
and while under such operation, the
iattening beast loses flesh, or at least
does not gain it, and the COW loses
in her usual flow of milk. This we
have known from repeated trials
Not that cattle should not be changed
from poor feed to better, but whether
in the small fields which are to keep
them through the grazing season, and
with an abundance of feed it is not
better to let them range over all of
them at will, and enjoy the whole Of it
as they choose.
We incline to the latter. Cattle
are quite local in their attachments.
They best like places to which they
are accustomed. They also like a
variety in their food. Large fields
usually offer greater variety than
small ones. For twenty-five years
past, we have had a pasture Of more
than hundred acres in a single field
in which we grazed cattle, horses and
sheep. In that pasture are different
elevations, most of it being dry up
land, covered with blue grass, white
clover and other mixed grasses; some
lower grounds, growing red-top and
foul-meadow; some lowland copses
Of wood, and underground of bushes,
and rank wild grasses interspersed
and range of marsh by river shore
covered with rank growth of sedge
grass.
Almost daily, through the season,
the cattle range over every part Of
the field, feeding in every quarter ca
which they roam, and frequently
leaving the highest, sweetest grass to
fill themselves from the coarse, and
what we would deem the least palat-
able heritage of the marsh wood 1t
Is certain that they like this variety
or they would not indulge in it; and
had they been confined to either
alone, would have hankered for the
other. We admit that some of the
grass where cattle continuously feed
by being much trodden over and laiC
upon, becomes soiled and distastefn
for the time, but the next rain wash
es it off, and it becomes palatable a
ever.
Cattle, in their tastes, are some
what like men, and as those accuston
ed to the highest luxuries like occa
sionally lunch of brown bread, wit
q smoked herring, and partake of
with great relish, so cattle, from th
choicest blue grass and white clover
love to plunge into coarser grasses
or browse the green leaves from th
tangled brush-wood. Our impre
sion is that the experience of bot
graziers and diarymen is growing
favor of the larger pastures withor
change, to the smaller ones with fr,
quent alterations, provided th
grasses be equally abundant.-Ame
ican Cattle Record.
WHITE CLovER.-We are Statistic
that our farmers do not appreciate tt
white clover or white honeysuckle,
some call it, so highly as they ougt
nor take as much pains as they Shoul
to cultivate it. IL fact, but very fe
SOW it, when they lay down the
lands to grass. They trust to natul
to supply them with it.
When once seeded with it, the sc
will retain it for a long time, for tt
low short stems will bear heads flu
of seeds, and these become scattert
about in the soil, and thus the see
remains in the ground, and sprin;
up whenever circumstances are favo
able for its development. A mode
ately clayey loan is congenial for
and ifthis is covered with an occasio
al dressing of plaster it will bring
out abundantly. 1t affords an exec
lent pasturage for bees, the best no
ey in the world being obtained
these little insects from white Glove
1t also affords the best pastura
for cattle, especially cows from who
milk cheese is manufactured, as e
periments have proved that cows q
zing on that species of clover vie
milk that contains cassin, or chez
particles, in greater abundance tn
they do when fed on the common graz
es. We throw these hints out [
our readers to think of. -Four or Fl
pounds, mixed with the other gre
seeds, is sufficient for an acre, and
can be obtained at reasonable pric
at the Agricultural seed store.
SPECIALTIEs IN FARMING. ,
change says that an extensive We
grower in Vermont has become
gusted with his business, owing to
low price of wool, and has determ
ed to get rid of his sheep and &C
mence operations in a new line
building cheese factory. This is
one of the MANY INSTANCES Of that