Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-01-10
Irasburgh Farmers Club.
That Causes Moss to Grop in oar
Fields?

COiu CLIMATE, as L nave HOIlCcu Ill tue
south part of the state there is not as
much moss on trees as here, nor on
land similar to ours. Where land is
poor moss grows; where it is well
MANFRED it does not grow.
z. E. Jameson agree with what
has been said; it is natures way to
have the ground covered; if we clear
off the forest and do not SOW seed ma
ture clothes the ground with moss
In the extreme north we are informed
moss grows very abundantly and af-
fords food for the reindeer in winter.
While at the south in the torrid zone
the spontaneous vegetation is of We
ry rank growth, so abundant as to be
hard to subdue. In fertile places here
rank grass and weeds grow naturally.
VIM. L. Jameson-I have heard it
was occasioned by a lack of drainage
but could not admit it, as in going
across new land the hollows were full
of grass where it was wettest, and the
knolls were covered with moss where
it was dryest. / have noticed acres
of elevated land covered with fine
moss; it looks as though it ought to
be good land, but grass dies out or is
killed out. | have tested the berry
Of this moss, or robins wheat, it is
sour. i have read that lime would
correct the acidity of the soil that pro-
duces sorrel. l have applied it to
some of my low meadow and dry land.
The grass is much better and there is
less moss; cannot say that it is
perfect cure if applied as top dress
ing, but there are acres of messy land
that would be benefited by blowing.
There is much more moss than one
would suppose unless he takes notice.
Some say ashes will kill moss and
bring in good grass and clo' er, and
have been told of experiments that
proved it. | desire to know how low
meadow land can be improved to pro
duce grass Of better quality than
the fiat blade grass.
G. B. Brewster-The reason knobs
are messy is, it is poorer soil, the rains
wash the fertility into the hollows.-
IL seems to me too costly to apply
lime and ashes to land as the same
value of manure will do better as it
warns and enriches the soil. Some
spots of soil are too poor to bear
grass. On the big meadows there are
places where moss is ankle deep, in
other places where the brook over
flows and washes up sand and gravel
the grass is very stout.
E.. P. Church-My idea is that moss
is natural to our soil and climate
Where some Of my heaviest grass was
cut this year there was such a bed of
moss that it looked after the hay was
taken off as though moss was the only
crop. l have cultivated sandy warm
soil, hard wood heavy soil and lime
stone land, and have always found
moss, as it grows where log heaps have
been burned upon the ashes. l con
cludc that to subdue it we mnst so en-
rich the land that good crops Of grass
and grain will exclude it.
G. B. Brewster-I have two knobs
one cants to the south, the other t.
the north, the north side is messy, tn,
south side is covered with grass ant
strawberry vines. Now moss grow
in cold localities, and starts in tn
spring six weeks before grass grow
much. We must so manure that som
valuable vegetation will grow as ear
ly and rank as possible.
E. P. Church. acknowledge tn
fertilizing power Of ashes and lime
but they will not kill moss as it wi
grow on them.
VIM. l.. Jameson-Now if we hav
a messy knoll hearing no grass, an
apply lime, and the next year get
good crop of clover, does not the lin
kill the moss? What makes til
change.
E. P. Church-If we had examine
the turf we should have found sma
sickly grass, the lime caused it to gro
above the moss.
n. Ii. Stiles-Moss on soft woo
land is caused by Gre, the fire burne
the life ont of the soil when it w
cleared. In Mr.. Church's pasture
can point out every place where Il
heap was burned. On hard woo
land it appears where log heaps a
burned. 1t may be that lime will I
turn the qualities fire takes out.
G. B. Brewster-I cannot agree wi
Mr.. Stiles, as on the big meadows
the most moss of any place | know
and there has never been any fire..
The reason moss crows where l.