Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-08-27
farm ann HoustbolD.
Sheep as a Cleansing Crop.

how 10 clear our pastures of brush and
weeds is very important question In our
grazing districts. As matter of fact,
spon most dairy farms il requires the
utmost vigilance and considerable expense
annually in cutting brush 10 keep them
clean. The grazing of cows and young
cattle alone will not clean the land from
brush aod weeds Patches of briars,
whortleberrv. sweet fern. hazelnuts, scrub
oak, or other brush spring up and spread
yesr by year until the grass is crowded
out. and the land is covered with young
growth OF forest-trees. In many Of the
Older States there are large tracts OF land
new covered with timber. that forty years
ago were in pasture. In the case of rough,
billy land that can never be ploughed. thl.
return 10 forest is often desirable. But
certain portion of every farm is needed
for pasture, and If animals can be sub
.tituted for human labor in killing brush
and weeds. il j exceedingly desirable TO
know IT, We recently visited two farms,
lying side by side. with no perceptihle
ditlrrsEce in the quality or moisture Of the
soil. The pasture lands were only sepa-
iai.d by stone fence. but something
much broader than = Stone encs separa-
Red the management Of the two farmers.
The one pasture had been grazcd by cattle
Tor long term OF years. and the policy
lad gone 10 seed in magnificent growth
Of alder. -horilebcrry bush. Young
naples. Yeryain. tA!,tlcs and golden rod.
hrays and other brush aud weeds There
were patches of grass In perhaps one
quarter Of the field, where the COWS got
'eA"iy living, The other pasture, in adj
dillon TO it, cattle, had the constant tread
81; flock of one hundred and sixty sheep,
aid their hooiS in this case certainly had
hren gold. Besides all tie wool. mutton.
and lambs Sold from the flock. they had
paid for thc.r keepiag every year in free
la@ the pasture Of brush aud coarse weeds.
and ia euricAius il with their manure.
There was no brush or any considerable
SIZE. and very few weeds. And we learn
Ell from the proprietor that sheep were the
only agents employed in keeping the field
clean. They had nibbled the Young shoot.
every year az they started. and what they
lad not killed outright by this cropping
they had kept even with iAe>era>s. There
We, good feed in every part ofthis pasture.
even late in the fall, and the owner OF this
farm used this contract between these ad-
joining pastures. ~ a standing argument
in favor OF sheep husbandry. Ii WAS very
much TO the point. Ifit is true. as George
Gcddcs asserts, that sheep in certain pro-
portion to cattle pay their way in pasture
naturally clean, they must pay much bet
ter in pastures inclined 10 produce brush
and weeds. We have had occasion to no
tee tie beneficial effects oil the grazing OF
.hoe2 upon another farm that has been
under observation several years. They
have not only subl-lcd sweet fern. briars.
and lhi>iIes but have greatly improved the
grasses. The sod j. much thicker and
heavier, and the white clover has come in
where once il made no show at all In
pastures where the brush is already strong,
and higher than the sheep can reach, it
cannot be expected that they Will conquer.
Bat il the brush be cut for season or two
and the sheep turned. in sufficient numbers
upon the young growth. they will keep it
under and eventually destroy it. This is
much cheaper than the use of the scythe
and plough perpetually. American Agri-
culturi,t