Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-12-29

4. II. IL. COtt1nS-InlS SUBJECT IN
cludes everything connected with pas
turage; the improvement of worn out
pastures, the eradication of bushes,
weeds, &c, and the question of fall
and spring pasturing of fields, and is,
considered in any or all of these d.
rections, a very important subject
1t is well known fact that many pas
lures are sadly run out. l know of
pasture lands that were once fertile,
which will not keep a sheep to the
acre in good condition. Pastures in
this section are not so bad as that,
but many of them are going the same
way. Where pastures are so badly
run out and are so situated they can
not be plowed and MANFRED, it is
question whether they had not better
be allowed to return to forest, and
let nature renovate them in this way.
| have found sheep good renovators
of old pastures. A few years ago |
turned a few acres which was rough,
into a sheep pasture. 1t had been
moved until part of it would not pro-
duce enough to pay for moving 1
pastured it with sheep four years and
then moved it again, when the forest
part had been enriched so much that
it produced heavy grass. This was
the highest part, and the sheep had
laid there more than in any other part
OF the pasture. Where pasture land
is so situated that it can be plowed [
have thought that good way to i'm
prove it might be to pillow it and sow
to clover. applying plaster or some
other portable fertilizer to give the
clover a start, then turn it in the clo-
yer and reseed to such grasses as were
desired for pasture. am perfectly
well satisfied that we lose very much
in our grass crops by pasturing now
ing lands in spring OF fall, and if we
can raise southern corn or something
else to feed our cattle in the fall, and
keep them off the moving, we shall be
the gamers. | have three fourths of
an acre Of land which | fenced in witt
, my garden some years ago, since which
no cattle have been on it fall or spring
and it will produce good crops of
grass, twice as long as precisely sim
liar land the other side of the fence
= treated with the same amount of ma
nure.
Geo. f. Spr0gue-I have no doub
if we could pillow and manure our pas
lures, it would pay as well to put then
in high condition as it does our fields
but many of them are so situated tina
we could not do it. even if we cOulC
spare the manure, which is out of th,
question. Unless it can be manure(
| think it Il bad practice to pillow ant
crop pasture lands. Mr.. Collin
speaks of blowing clover in. Now
, don't know as the experiment has beer
!, tried here, but | think if | succeeds
> in getting good crop of clover
should let the cattle have it, insteat
Of turning it into the ground out Of
: sight | think that brakes are tn
n worst things we have to contend wit
here in our pastures. There are tw
e kinds, the hog brake so called, whic
II grows from waist to shoulder high an
= spreads over large surfaces of grOunt
>, and the buckhorn brake which grow
II in clumps upon the knobs, and are
% my pasture constantly encroachin
'r more and more upon the adjoinin
10 grass grounds. | think the hog brab
can be killed by moving if cut at tt
" proper time, and that time does n,
depend upon the moon or the signs {
r. the zodiac, nor on any particular de
er of any particular month, but it is wht
er the plant has attained it's full statur
IL and is near maturity. Thistles mo
- ed at this time are sure to die, and
70. presume most vegetables may be d
I'd stroyed in the same way, but am n
al so sure about the buckhorn brake
er Brakes may be destroyed by plowin
~ 4. Morse-There are two caus
operating to destroy grasses, and CO
he Sequently lessen pasture re e d, VI
no drought and hard winters. Still
IN don't think pastures in this secti
,d have ever done much. | think t
W. pastures in Craftsbury will keep
much stock as they ever would,
Nv nearly so. / think from my own {
ar perience that sheep will improve
he pasture more than any other sto'
zee and furnish about the best means
o reclaiming worn out lands. | ha
he not had experience with the buckle
,st brake, but the hog brake may be
he stroyed by moving three times in {
10 season, cutting them each time abb
uu the time they reach their full statu