Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-12-11
Westminster Farmers Club

4
M. w. DAVIS Since ! have been re
quested to open this discussion il may
be proper to remark that the proper
solution of the question is one extreme
ly important to the agriculturist. Since
grass is king and when We fail in grow
ing it successfully, We fail in nearly
every other crop, In general, we do not
appreciate the Importance of thoroughly
pulverising our land before seeding it.
Young grass roots need free access to all
the fertilizing materials of the soil, as
free as the seeds we sow in the garden.
On light soil think We should harrow
in both clover and grass seed. As to
the time, | have practiced seeding in the
spring but with poor success. Have had
little or no better in seeding in the fall
after tobacco. Think we can do no bet
ter than to seed after oats if we SOW thin
enough. We should SOW them as early
as possible in order that the grass may
get age. Prefer to plough in the fall,
In regard to the kinds Of seeds, |
consider clover good variety. 1t leaves
the ground in good condition for follow
ing crops and is good for the health and
growth of stock. Think hill farmers
should SOW some herds grass. By so
doing they make sure of crop the sec
ond year if they loose the clover. SOW
some red top. 1t makes good hay for all
kinds of stock Do not think it advis.
able to seed meadow land in the fall.
GEO. M. CHASE am of the opinion
that we manure too heavy when we
break our land, reserving none for the
special benefit of the grass. Think one
half of the manure reserved for use at
the time of seeding, would insure a
better catch, and return us better profits
than if we fed it all to the corn crop.
Think we should plough more land and
plough it other. Once or twice plough.
ing is not enough. Land must be thor
oughly pulverized to insure good catch.
To be successful in seeding land it is of
course necessary to understand the ma
ture of the soil. 1t is folly for any one
to sow clover on land that will grow a
good crop of red top for number Of
years. believe the leading principle
in all trials of seeding land is to thor
oughly pulverize the soil.
HARRY FLoYD.-Farmers thirty or
forty years ago had no trouble in seed
ing land. Why do we fail at the pres
cot time? AS Mr.. Davis has said, if we
fail to get good catch it is a failure all
through our business. When l SOW clio.
yer it starts, 10 all appearance, as we'll
as could be desired, but soon dies out.
| believe it is poverty stricken" | be-
lieve we had better plough less and use
more manure for top dressing. Think
we use our manure too quick. Should
be more thoroughly decomposed before
using. Would top dress in the spring of
the year. Grass needs something to keep
it growing after once started. Think
all moist land should be ploughed in
dry weather, sowed to buckwheat for the
purpose, in part, of shading the ground
and rottiDg the turf; sowed to oats the
second year, then by manuring it the
third year all our moist land can DC
made the most profitable land of the
farm. Think large and profitable crops
can be grown on much of our land by
carefully top-dressing the same.
b. F. SLEEPER.-I have observed that
those who have taken the most pains to
procure fertilizers and to make prompt
use OF all manure made, have been the
most successful. l don't know how we
can plough under too much manure for
corn. | believe that if we are going te
raise crops we must prepare our lane
for them. 1t is useless to undertake TO
grow corn, or any ether crop, without
feeding it.
FLoYD.-We put manure too deem
Twenty loads on top, simply narrowed
in, is worth more to grow corn than for,
ty loads ploughed under, and the grass
will derive more benefit from the manure
spread, one half one year and the otbe,
half the second year, than if all spread
the first year.
PREsIDENT.-I have universally los
my clover in the month of June wheI
in the third leaf 1t is an old sayin,
that buckwheat is an impoverishinp Gro,
but have noticed it sown in large field
in the west. Farmers SOW il TO rot tn,
turf. l have tried seeding after tobacco
by sowing in August, but have lost tn,
clover. Should like to knew what be
came of it. | think it winter killed
Have observed that farmers in some sec
tons of the country practice sowing seec
on the snow earl y in the winter. Should
like to see the experiment tried in tbi
town.