The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-06-02
Farm, Garden, and Household,
Written for the journal.
HOW SHALL WE FARM ?

lnltiNdtS tilllu SWllcs, ANA low ll1lttS lilaI are IN
i-i~pcrscd with upland. There are in all parts o
The state tracts of Natural Meadows. varying il
-le from one TO one thou sand acres and upward
on these grow variety of grasses that form very
good hay when properly cut and dried. These, il
many instances, were formerly the beavers who il
past ages built dams that caused them TO be flowed
Killing the trees and ming after the lapse o
crnture>, level tract of level land by the accumula
lion of 2ebfis inhe pond thus formed which i'll time
became covered with wild water grasses and after
lhr proper height had been obtained or the remova
ol the dam. other kinds became liked i'll the soil
lue>c natural grass meadows can be improved il
man, instances by drainage, and the tame grasses
h made 10 take the places of the Wild varieties now
sroWmg. These lands are valuable for hay pro
,iacing purposes, they are sure to produce n crop
lhr upland may fail but we can turn with assur
.u,'r iu The meadow and mol he disappointed; they
make an ne>timable addition 10 an upland farm
increasing ills stocl, capabilities and giving up th'
rith treasures deposited in them during long age
past To enrich the impoverished hillside and rdg,
lmd under cultiy alton. The value of this natura
Grass land is being realized and the price of sucl
tMl~ Whjct ful a few wears ago was merely nom
nal. il being considered good only for the purpose
t't u}NliIl5 Ilt tiIlh tPttlItis Idi'idN '"N N''iN
jHq.
HUrrYat.s, from iHi,r. between. ami rates.
-mll valleys, or SAtoH rolicgS beHreeN mis-, gcner
.,ih ol even surface and bearing mixed growth OF
forest trees. soil deep ulluN ial, black and rich
utIine~ in the more open space, covered with
dense growth OF natural grasses, brakes and othcl
rnk yegctaion Blur-iont grass is perhaps
he most valuable of any of the wild intcrvale
rr,~-ps. Many Of the intervals are dry enough 10
cultivate when cleared and produce good crops OF
cllu. potatoes and grain without dressing, but il is
loer policy 10 crop Them the better way is to GET
1urm smooth and keep them for permanent grass
lands reSee,lm9 will - needed occasionally; this
can be done by in@ the seed in the spring ol
,Ii aud following it with top dressing of compost
"il nuHpro, iill or loan, those W no are fortunate
tlpaeh to own few acres of these interyalc lands
are peculiarly fortunate. and those who do not
-hould strive TO procure them, il any are within,
lrach. II We were going into a new country.
Aroo~toOk, tor instance. one Of the first objects in
.erul.ng Il location would be to make sure of at
,.>t ten acres of intcrvale land. Intcrvalc land is
puni in large tracts bordering on large streams
and some of our rivers and lakes. That they were
t,Incd by the action of water is beyond Il doubt ;
lbclr lIluyia character determines this point
Herds Grass will thrive on intcry.lles and redtop
II is said that aIsike clover Will do we'll upon Them
" here they have natural tendency 10 produce
hlne- Joint grass, perhaps it j. not best 10 attempt
to supplant it with tame grasses rs long AS it
lllnl', 10 do wen. ln clearing interynlcs it has
been fuund best to leave occasionally Il Young
thrifty elm. maple ash other hardy trees the
partial shade they afford Will prevent the blue Joint
from >un-kiiling: the heat Of our summers and Il
hlasing sun pouring down on newly cleared IN
ter>ale will certainly destroy tender gras, that is
naturally found in partially sheltered spots. Thi5 is
.m important fact that should he borne IN the
mind of those engaged in clearing intervals, Whe re
this gra-, is predomin.te l;Iue.Ioint i, said TO
b,hir a GOOD variety OF hay bat little inferior to
hrrl arl~, or red top. I'm interN.,lr once cleared,
u,d Wrll tnrcd@th durable material. is one of the
,r-l pieces of property farmer can have; every
wear IT i,li- 4 rich return. costing only the har
te,lin& and taxes, requiring but little outlay, no
pl0W n% no rultil;uion and no extra expenses; ;
.od in those years. when the upland hay is cu! OIL
Ihr farm ha- "A resource 10 draw upon th n never
fails to RESPOND to hi needy ca
SWALEs usually border upon some riyuet on
itr Site of some small awnn, in the day of forests,
;l Nf Inc wears Wrn the nltllti WIS 'Flll1 tltii-
,d. often thcs,. places We're the ''rairh ads lay
hat refused 10 burn, stones that were wished to he
nit Of stump, that were in the way We're hauled
n deposited here, rill the failing hill-lcs began to
warn the cropper that hc must add To the hay pro
tttcin" resources of his farm. Many of these have
been cleared ull, many more ought to be. When
ndrrraincd and lcvelcI and seeded TO grass. these
u!akc excellent permanent hay lands; on Very
many farm, will be sccm to-lay acres of these
mntura Grass pttS, that Woud he the best hay pro-
ducng part of the farm utterly neglected; many
VIII be seen merely cleared, but in n state OF nature
Il regards the surface and too in situations where
they have been moWn over for years: the cradle
knobs dptiMg the surface, occasionally the re-
mAns of IN Old log may be seen, and frequently
-ttnps mar the prospect and perpIeX the mower:
some of these are rocky. I1leSe are the very mater
i;tl4 with which to drain it, placed in ancar position
bv nature herself. inviting the owner as wear attcl
year he skins over this, to him, cycsore. TO put
them 10 their proper use in underdrainin@ the land
they cucumber. These lands when pat into thcil
proper shape, are the most valuable acres of The
farm, Welding the greatest income in proportion to
outlay of any that compose the farm
FARM NOTES.