Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-11-18
agricultural.
" aSteS of the Farm.

We have spoken Of the sources OF waste
on the farm N the want Of proper manage
ment OF manures, particularly in regard to
their careless exposure TO rains and the con
sequent loss through drainage. And when
1t is considered how great proportion Of
the valuable constituents of yard InaDGres
are soluble in water, and consequently easily
washed out and lest. IL will be found that we
have q multitude of sins and short comings
- answer for in this direction. If what we
said shall have the effect to lead any to keep
their manure sheltered and to apply it directly
from the barn cellar, we shall feel tina. we
have done some good.
Another great source Of waste ls to be found
in the bad management Of pastures. How
many farmers take any pains to keep down
the wild grOwths of every description that
come up in TIE pastures; the moss, the
bushes, the muileins, the white weed and all
the tribe of nOxlous plants that infest our
pasture lands?
Pastures are often oyerEtocked, and this
leads to deterioration. Some farmers turn
in all kinds of stock, like horses, neat cattle
and sheep, old and young together, and thia
IL 4 source Of injury and consequent waste.
OF course the mere mention of these mis-
takes is sufficient suggestion rs how to
remedy them.
As to the effect OF eheep upon pastures,
though opinions differ, we have no doubt it
Is generally beneficial. 1t is certainly go in
the eastern parts OF the State, where few
sheep are kept. and where our pastures have
long been fed By dairy stock till it takes
often from four TO six acres to carry a COW.
We have seen rough and bushy pasture
lllore improved by heavy stocking with sheep,
ard daily feeding with cotton seed meal,
IN one season, than we ever saw one improved
IN any other way IN twice or three times Is
FgrT 10 hat l. Ia4+
TO change to horn cattle after two or three
FEARS feeding by sheep, and the reverse.
Pasture lands properly managed are undOubt-
ediy profitable, and hence the temptation to
crowd and overstock them. Plaster and
ashes mixed in tie proportion Of one-thrd
of the former to tgFo-thirds OF the latter,
make an excellent top dressing. But 1t was
not SO much 10 50 into details es to how
pastures may be improved, that led US to
speak Of them, as to ailude to their general
misnanagement as q prominent source of
waste The thrifty farmer will find means
to improve them and keep them improving.
If it is inpracticahIe to use the yard 1nannres
upon them. he viii use plaster or ashes or
loam. is general rule it is thought to be
better not to plough them, even where this is
practicable, as the heritage on old pastures,
not too badly run out, is thought to be
sweeter and more nutritious than that of
that are equally good and less expensive.
The treatment Of wood lands is another
source of waste which on many farms is
serious one 1t is now generally understood
20 be better TO cut them of clean and TO let
them grow. up again, than to hack and trim
them out, as many do. The thinning out
system, has therefor been abandoned by the
most intelligent farmers, leaving the thinning
out of young wood lots to the care of ma
ture. And this we believe to be the better
policy.
But there is great wanttof economy in
the cutting and preparation of wood for
fuel. How few farmers keep a years supply
on hand, well seasoned, dry and properly
housed? How few have calculated the loss
they sustain in burning green ori unseasoned
wood Even the most thoroughly seasoned
wood contains about ten per cent OF water,
but green wood contains at least thirty-hve
per cent. In drawing or hauling twenty
cords of green wood, the farmer hauls, at
least. twenty tons of water, or one hundred
and twenty i've barrels, and in burning it
green he loses heat enough in cooperating
the sap to boil about twelve thousand gallons
of water 1t is poor economy therefore, to
trouble the. folks in the kitchen much
with the use of green wood. Let it be sea-
soned and dried under cover and kept in
good supply.
w DO can estimate the cost ana the loss IN
fencing in this Commonwealth? How many
old walls and division fences that ought to
come down and be got out of the way
Thousands of acres are occupied with useless
fences. the farms cut up SO rs to increase the
difficulties of running tie moving machine,
and all he labors of the farm multiplied By
frequent turnings in ploughing using an :
other machine ON the farm. 1t is a subject
worth looking into with great care, and it
will be found that unnecessary fences con-
stitute very serious source of waste and
expense on..a large number of farm.-Plough-
man.