Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-17
Farm, Garden, Kitchen and Shop

gNhAo III o1NAiiE nay oONu t'hN w -
noticed that, when hay was allowed to go
to seed, the crop was very materially in
iured the next year, and if seed was taken
from the same ground two years in success
sion, the crop was injured to such an ex-
tent that blowing became absolutely neces-
sary. In my opinion many of the roots
die by means of the ripeness of the crop;
but above all when hay is allowed to ripen
it does not readily start up again, and thus
the long, warm, dry days of August have
a direct effect in burning out whatever
there may be left of life On the contrary
when hay is cut early, the field is immedi-
ately covered with verdure, which not on
ly keeps life among the roots, but shields
them from the scorching rays Of the sun.
J. Dow in 81. Johnsbury Times.
Waterford, VT.
Too Much WATER.-The crops in cen
trail New York have suffered severely this
season in consequence Of excessive rain.
The corn looks yellow and stunted, and in
many fields it is scarcely foot high
Grass is abundant and quite heavy, but
frequent rains prevent the cutting and cur
ing Of the crop, while the wheat harvest is
scarcely begun, although large portion Of
this grain is fully ripe. In recent ride
through the entire central portion of the
state. we took considerable pains to exam
inc the different fields, and notice the effect
of deep culture and undertaking upon
the various crops, and we are fully satisfied
that if the land in that portion of the state
was thoroughly underdrained and plough
ed deep, three times as large crops would
be obtained as at the present time. There
are scores Of large fields of wheat that will
not yield ten bushels per acre, and the on
ly cause Of the failure is excessive moisture,
rs may be seen by the difference in the ap
pearance ofthe grain in the same field.
On the ridges made in ploughing, or upon
slight knobs, the wheat was comparatively
heavy but where the surface was level, it
was all or nearly all destroyed. The far
mers told us that this was an unusually
wet season, which is no doubt true; and
that is one reason why the land should be
put in condition to withstand just such eX-
tremes.
Some of the farmers think that under
draining and deep culture would not pay
for the outlay but when we asked the price
of farms, they were only too ready to as
sure US that the land was very valuable.
One to two hundred dollars per acre i,
not considered an exhorbitant price ever
for large farms two to five miles from the
railroad, and while many were ready to ad
init that with ordinary farming it was diff
cult to make their land pay the interest on
this sum, still they would hold on to tho
farm, keep up the price, spend little OF
nothing in Improvements, and trust to luck
and favorable seasons for even moderate
crops. When the farmers in the Eastern
States wish to show the world that farming
can be made profitable business they viii
have to prepare their lands to withstand
long and excessive drouths, as well as ex
cessive rains, and this can only be done by
deep culture aud undertaking.
There are thousands of acres of whca
and corn in the state of New York tina
will be scarcely worth harvesting and tn,
failure is owing to excessive moisture il
the soil, which might have been prevcntc,
if the land had been properly prepared be
fore the seed was put in. Can any ON
doubt this, when we see two fields side b,
side, both equally rich, andyet on the deep
ly prepared soil the crop is fine, while o.
the other it is a complete failure? On
good crop will pay the expense Of under
draining and subsOiling any piece Of Ian
in the Eastern States that is worth cult
waiting, and when it is once well done
will last lifetime, and yet it is seldor
that Il half-dozen years pass without eithc
q protracted drouth or a very wet season.
~ y Sun.
FEEDING OFF AFTERMATH-Itisa yer
common practice with farmers to resery
their meadow feed until very late in tn
fall, even so near to the winter that til
frost has taken nearly all the succulent an
nutritious properties out of it; but by tn
mode ofmanagement, very little benefit
received, and in many case, great injury
done. Some advocate, however, thataft
math should not be fed off at all, but le
rs a shield and mulch for the roots bl
from our own experience, we do not b.
lieye meadows are injured by being pa
tured in the fall, if it is done at the rigl
time, and by certain animals.
Meadows are injuredby horses and she(
late in the season; for after the blades
the grass are killed, these animals will II
close to get sweet feed They never shou
be allowed upon moving land after Il
grass has stopped growing, not even
winter when the ground is frozen, for the
will then gnaw to the very roots.
Horned cattle are really the only fit al
mails for the meadow, and they should
turned in while the feed is good, and I
moved as soon rs the earth becomes mo-
enough for their feet to break the sod
this way profit may be derived on o
hand, without any loss attending on t
other, and sufficient protection left for t
roots. Timothy, and many other grass
which are common, take strong hold up
the soil, and are difficult to eradicate, a
for this reason farmers abuse their fields
Close feeding kills out here and ther,
little, and MOSES, with other foreign m
tiers, work in so gradually that it is fo
few years hardly noticeable, but eventual
the meadow has to be ploughed and
stocked, because paying yield of grass
not received.
Now all this results from injudiciC
management; for we know of many mel
Ows which yield heavy crops every year
the best quality of grass, that have ne
been plOughed or re-seeded since the la
was cleared nearly half a century ago. I'll
have always been pastured in early Fl
never fed close, and have occasionally
ceiyed top dressing of barnyard manu-
Ohio Edrmer
EARLY Cur HAY FOR Cows.-What
er arguments there may be, based on
ence or experience, in favor of cutting |
late, that is to be fed to horses, mules, w
oxen, or beef cattle. none Of these will
I