Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-03-18


Says. the farmers of Massachusetts can
uo, afford 10 rtise beef er manufacture
butter at common prices. Bnt wo msst
70 10 the tar Off pastures of Texas Tor
our beef. and 10 the prairies OF the Wes'
for our breadstuffs Had us not better
,ry TO produce our own To the same
number OF persons, there are ten cattle
in Holl.nd to one here, aud they do not
COMPLAIN that they cannot afford 10 raise
beet and butter. We can double our
products if we will go 10 work at the
foundation of the subject.
differ from many members OF the
Board in regard to ploushing grass lands
do plough, and l do believe in 1t. Does
it do any good to stir and expose the
soil of our cultivated fields, Especially
clay lands to the action OF the atmos-
phere? If ,illage is good for cultivated
crops. why not try it on our grass lands
The Board say, because the newly seed
cd fields have many bare spots and waste
places that produce nothing, while old
meadows have a close. thick urt, and
that tho quality OF the hay is better, be-
side. being greater in quantity. / Ray
plpugh occasionally. There IS no grass
land in Massachusetts but what should
be ploughcd once In Avo or ten years.
But instead of sowing only timoIhy aud
clover. should SOW variety of grass
Is. and in two years get rs good turf rs
before. can grow more hay in ten
wears byploug hing and re-seedins two
or more times.
People differ In their selection OF soils
for grass. some Think grass land should
be cold. while corn land should be
warm. Now grass plants are adapt
ed 10 cold land. If we understand the term
rightly. but no. to land that is made cold
by stagnant water. 1t should be moist
and cool. in consequence Of its absorbing
power, anil for its ability to retain the
moisture taken from the atmosphere.
Mex, let Us look at meadow fields rs a
place TO raise hay 10 sell. And here !
must urge you 10 depend upon irrigation
whenever II can be made practicable. 1t
he sage lands and barren plains OF Col
orado. The hills and mountain sides OF
France. Germany, and Italy can he made
fertile and profitable under system OF
irrigation, why not the meadows OF Mas
sachusctts rs we'll We have land Of
brooks, rivers and streams. ! believe
we can, by irrigation, raise two crops OF
grass a year for long term oil years
not on land covered by stagnani water.
but on such As is well undcrlraiued; at
any rate. We ought TO Try ii.
Our pasture lands should be Improved
i'm the same manner. BY improving them
We can supply our home markets. The
speaker said he pi,ied that man who had
hundred acres OF pasture covered with
bushes and rocks But much might be
done even with such land. aud to n
profit. One way that had been recon-
mended by Secretary Flint was 10 cut
the bushes, then to orersiock with sheep,
and make up the deficiency by feeding
cotton seed meal. In this way you are
eariehiug the land by feeding the cotton
seed at the same time that the sheep are
killing many Of the bushes. Bushes can
be killed 10y moving. il done persistent
Is, and often enough. First pull up the
algesl with oxen; but don't stop there;
SOW seed. and drag. hoe, or rake II in.
according 10 circumstances, and do 10!
be afraid to apply some kind OF fertilizer
TO your pastures.
Now what are you going to do about
IL, Wait for miracle to come from the
Agricultural College? 1t never will
come. Science Is good Tor nothing TO
the man who sits with his arms folded,
waiting Tor science to do something Tor
him The colleges will help US al they
caa. but we must do the rork, after all.
l. these suggestions are carried out, it
will add hundreds of millions Of dollars
10 the aggregate OF the agricultural pro
auctions OF the United States.
At The close OF Professor Slockbridge's
address. the President Of The day, (Mr.
Hubbard, invited discussion on the sub
ject OF moving and pasture lands.
Mr.. Allis. OF Conway, was called Tor.
lie responded, by stating that he was
one OF a committee OF the Franklin
County Agricultural Society on the "Im.
proyement ofGraSs Lands" and ii agree.
aole to the meeting. he would like TO
read u part of his report on that subject.
Mr. Slade, OF Somerset, desired TO
take up the subject originally announced
for that afternoon, namely, Fruit and
Vegetable Culture"
Col. Stone, moved 10 close the discus
sion after hearing Mr. Allis' report. say
a, four o'clock. and Mr.. Allis then went
on TO give a statement of his method of
reclAiming and undertaking. wsste
land, and bringing it up to very high
state of cultivation. and at cost that
would leave him handsome profit. He
drains with stones; digs the bitches
three feet deep, and fills about half full
Of any kind of stones that are convenient,
packing them in the bottom of the ditch
rs closely as possible. without making
any sluice way; then finishes off with