Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-03-03
How to Keep Pasture in Good Condition.

How to Keep Pasture in Good Condition.
1t is with pasture as with man,
the income must be greater than tie
expenses, or it grows poor. Crops
are the expenses. 1t is quite posi-
BILE to make the surface of any soil un-
productive and Improbable by carry
ing off more than is put on. Pastur-
ing with cows that are yarded 1T
night does this. Sheep or beeves
that remain upon the land, OH the
Contrary, return more than an equiva-
lent in manure, and keep the laid
improving. Where plaster meets
want of tie soil it may be kept i'm
proving by sowing broadcast bushel
and half to the acre every spring
and feeding off the grass. Many
farms IN the grazing district in the
interior are kept up mainly by plaster
and feeding. Some of them will car
nv bullock to the acre. Other lands
ned lime, and the lime brings in
clover. this plant, BY the large drafts
it makes upon the subsoil and the
atmosphere. always improves the pas
turage. In other districts ashes are
accessible at reasonable rates. and
they are always reliable top dress
ing.
EFFECTS OF ACOHNs on Stock
The effect of acorns upon cattle is
question still discussed in England.
There is SO much :anin in the acorn
that it has tendency to do harm
when taken i'll too large quantity.
Possibly one reason why acOrns harm
cattle and not hogs is that the bovins
swallow shells as well as kernels,
while the pigs cleverly leave the
shells on the ground. One writer
says: was once very much surprised
to see fine COW, in fine condition.
eating acorns and crab apples alter
nately with IMMUNITY; there was plen-
of grass and water in the pasturagc,
and, wonderful to relate, six young
beasts in the adjoining pasture died
from eating acorns, III the autumn OF
1868.
A BREED OF WALKING HORSES =
What Use are fast horses to farmers!
Can they pu. them to work in the pillow
harrow, cultivator, roller reaping ma
chine, cart or wagon! No y storm
might arise and the whole crop of
hay be ruined. if they had to depend
on 2.40 horses to haul it in. There
is but one use that We can see that
farmers can put them to-sending for
a doctor; but as farmers have very
little use for this professional gentlt-
man, and never get very sick. SLOW
er and surer horse will answer better.
Why then parade these horses at the
head of lists at agricultural fairs, AMI
give them the biggest premium No
wonder our practical farmers COM
plain of this, while there is no premi-
umum at all for walking horses, which |
are more useful.
MANURE THE GARDEN. -Ground |
that is to be used for vegetables next |
spring, should be MANFRED now -
Haul out from the barnyard all tie |
manure that can be spared for this
purpose. and spread it over the sur
face. and then plough under and leave
the soil in slight ridges until spring.
If the manure is fresh and warm, it
will become sufficiently cool and de-
composed by spring. and its juices
Incorporated with the soil.
When the surface of the land Is near
Iy level, and there is no danger of the
manure washing away, it may be
spread upon the surface. even after
the ground is frozen. For vegetables
the enriching materials should be tho
decomposed and Incorporated
with the soil and We do not know OF
a better way of doing this than to
begin in autumn, blowing once at
this time. and again in spring. The
heavy rains will do more towards
mixing the materials than any man.
ipulation with plough or spade.
SwISE-ABoUT RREEDs. A wri-
ter says he has bred and fatted the
following breeds of hogs. and found
some Of all good, but not Uniform in
their fattening tendencies: First.
trial with the China, then the Wo-
burn or Bedford, followed by the
Berkshire, Yorkshire, Chester. and,
l. silly, the Essez, the latter fully an
swering all my wishes as perfect
animal Their early maturity, fine
form, aptitude to take on flesh. quick
growth. large. wcll-deyeloped hams.
re sows prolific and good nurses
their qualities | consider the most de-
sirabIe in swine. If every farmer in
Missouri had NO swine in their farms
but Essex it would save hundreds
of thousands Of dollars to the State
by the saving of corn and other food.
One other recommendation: The
Essex hog possesses freedom from GU
taneous diseases. such as mango and
measles. All black breeds of swil e