Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-24
Prom The Hearth & Homo.l
Pastures on Dairy Farms.


Conclusion Of Lecture Of Charles H. Flint.
Il is well to feed close, but not to ovcrstock,
especially with cattle. To oyerstock with
sheep, for the purpose Of inducing them to
Kill brush, and for a limited time will do.
No soil will stand continued ovcrstocking
with the same stock. IL is well to stock fully,
and give extra feed, for il increases the manure,
and Is equal TO top-dressng. The circum.
stances which surround the farmer and the
condition Of the farm will vary pasture man
agenent. Some farms, in consequence Of
having fine, fertile mow-lands, will winter
more stock than they will summer In such
eases, the balance must be obtained by extra
manuring and top-drcssiug Of the pasture
Other farms will summer more than they will
winter then the mow-fclds must be enriched
by various processes known to good farmers
but it should not be at the expense Of the
pasture.
As to the general cropping of the dairy
FARM it should be borne in mind that il is
essentially a stock-arm, and if grain is grown
II must be for the stock, and not TO SELL
Grass and hay should be the main reliance.
aud all the products that 20 to market from
such farm should 60 on four legs. Grain
farming is exhaustive, because the products
are all carried away; stock farming is improy-
ing, because it furnishes that which is essen
tial to fertility, manure. Glover, although a
good crop where general farming is carried
on, is not good on a milk farm, and for pur.
poses Of milk, unless it is cut very carly and
cured so as to retain the aroma and leaves.
The fine or natural grasses are best, and should
lao 4uf kafnra fha 81 trpuIx G..l
pasture with great variety Of grass One
Of the best is Kentucky bluegrass, or June
grass, as it is called in some sections. 1t
ilourishes ON limestone lands, and is univer-
sally esteemed as a pasture-grass IL starts
early, makes a luxuriaut growth, is sought for
by cattle, and withstands the frosts Of winter
Meadow fox-tail is an excellent pasture-grass
it grows rapidly, and is relshed by all kinds
of stock. Orchard-grass, or rough cocksloot,
for pastures, stands preemnent. 1t is a ma
tive Of this country and was introduced into
England from Virginia in l764, since which
time its cultivation has extended into every
country of Europe where it is universally
held in the very highest estimation. 1t is
palatable to all kinds of stock, grows rapidly
its aftermath is luxuriant, and has the power
Of enduring excessive cropping by cattle 1t
flourishes under trees and in shady places,
blossoms earlier than timothy, but needs to
be fed clover to prevent its forming tufts aud
going to seed. Timothy, meadow-grass, fowl
meadow rye-grass, and redtop are all yaua-
bic grasses, and should be used in seeding for
pasture.
Root crops on dairy-iarms are all-important,
and their cultivation and use are rapidly in.
ereasing. They are not only condiment,
but keep the tissues Of the animal open, and
increase the flow Of milk The old way was
to get the dry cows through the winter barely
alive, on poor hay which nothing else would
cat. This way was all wrong 1t is better,
more profitable to give them good feed, keep
them in a strong and healthy condition, for
they will be more likely to bear strong,
healthy calves, and both they and their moth
ers will do better the next summer. In Elan
ders, where they have most excellent dairy
management, one acre out Of FIVE of the farm
Is devoted to turnips or other roots, to supply
winter feed for the cows, and they are all fed
to them rather than other stock The roots
are all chopped or mashed, and boiled with
meal, and this is all the feed they have, ex-
cspt little wheat and barley-straw. They
get no hay, but are kept in fine condition.
They carry about FIVE COWS to a farm of ten
acres
On the dairy-farm the chief attention should
be given to roots; yet most OF our farmers
feed hay alone. 1t is poor and costly way,
and does not bring an adequate return. The
more roots the more manure, and the more
roots aud hay will the farm produce, and the
more cows will it carry. Roots and grass
crops are the main aim on the dairy-iarm
grain crops should be only secondary, if Gull
tiyated at all. Mangolds if well cared for,
will produce from twenty to thirty tons per
acre. Mangods, Swedes, and English turnips
are the main reliance. Turnips can be grown
well and proftably, on lends which you wish
to seed down in July or August, if they are
in good filth. Put the land in good condi-
tion for seeding and then mix little turnip-
seed with your grass-seed you will find the
turnips will do well, and be of no preccptible
injury to the grass crop. To conclude, the
practice of many who pretend to pursue the
dairy, is TO make it subservient to other bran
ches of business on the farm. This is wrong
for the dairy is Of so much Importance, and
requires so much attention and wise care to
make it eminently proftable--as it can be- at
the present prices of dairy products-thc
other crops and business should be made sub.
servient to the dairy, if the circumstances of
the farmer are such as to justify his engaging
in il at all and in dairy-farming, root crops,
and not grain, should occupy the place of
honor