The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-23
Wl'eeling Register.
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How TO Subdue Brush in Pastures

In all the dairy region grass grows
well, but brush grows better, extending
the roots every year, and gaining in
power to grow, the longer they are ne
elected. In three or four years it roots
out the grass, and in twenty years
makes a forest. We all know that
brush can be subdued and kept under
by blowing or by habitual cutting; but
in many cases the blowing is impracti
cable, and the annual cutting costs more
than the grass is worth. We cannot
afford to pay five dollars for four dollars
worth of pasture. Some fields are 30
rocky and wet that it would cost hun
dred dollars an acre to clear and drain
them, while adjacent land all cleared is
not worth forty dollars an acre. That
will not pay yet. We have thought Of
a moving machine for cutting brush,
and if we had one about three times as
strong as a Buckeye, that would take
off halfinch stub, it would be just the
thing for cutting sweet ferns, whortle-
berries and briers that infest smooth
pastures. But the machine to do this
work is not yet in the market. Annual
burning with seed sowing is probably
the cheapest and the best method on
most pastures OF course where the
brush already has possession, it must
be cut to begin with On the burned
spots grass seed should be sown in the
spring. Young shoots will spring up
the first season, and make growth OF
two or three feet. The leaves will fall
and cover the earth. This covering
will become very dry 10y spring, and if
a dry spell is chosen to fire them, the
burning leaves. and grass will make a
fire hot enough to consume most Of the
new growth, and deaden the whole of it
down to the ground The roots will
start again the second season, but with
diminished vigor. The ashes from the
annual burning will stimulate the
growth of the grass. The clumps Of
brush. will grow small by degrees and
beautifully less" until grass has full
possession. The occasion Of failure by
burning is owing to the want of perse-
verance. 1t will not do to intermit for
single season. Close pasturing es-
pecially with sheep, is great help in
the process. If the land has an annual
burning, many of the tender leaves and
twigs that start will be cropped by the
animals, and the growth will diminish.
The burning is inexpensive. In favora-
DIE weather one man would burn over
fifty acres in day, and keep the fire
from damaging trees or fences. We were
recently in a pasture that had been
under this treatment for several years.
The bushes were nearly extinct, and
the grass was green and vigorous, even
in December. The torch had proved
worthy rival Of the pillow, as an imple-
ment of cultivation. The true policy 10
managing these rough pastures is little
labor applied peraistently every year,
leaving the bushes no chance TO get
strong hold.