The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-09-16
Farm, Garden and Household.
Feeding Moving Lands.

hear it said farmers are saving much
hay this open weather; cattle manage to
pick up much in the fields. Indeed, in my
riding see, sometimes, herds of cattle IN
moving fields, grazing the dry aftermath
For some days it is likely they may secure
a third or half their support away from
the hay NOW. 1t seems to me, however,
that Tor every mouthful of hay saved by
this means. four OF five good mouthfuls
will be lost to the barn the coming sum-
mer. If of this YOU are doubtful, then
consider the reasons in support of the as
scltion. 1t is assumed that the soil of your
farm is light, thin, and rests upon a well
drained subsoil.
The practice Of manuring gras3 lands
upon the sward, to keep the grass well,
and TO save the expense of ploughng and
hazard of reseeding, has become at least
"A Massachusetts custom. This custom finds
lis support in the belief that great roots
ne near the surface OF the ground-that
the rams or melting snow liquety, so to
speak, the manure applied to the surface.
and in the liquid form it settles in the soil
sufficiently tor the surface roots OF the
grass to be thereby nourished. We know
ti.at the most fertile layers OF our farm
soils are the layers near the surface Sur
iace-apphtd farm manure has its greatest
strength retained in these LAYERS. Go
dlWu three OF four inches and IT is found
i'l every half inch deeper there is less of
fertility Examine the ploughed turrow,
nd the Great mass OF roots are not found
NeioW these teW inches. What lies below
thi- depth is very important IN sustaining
% growth of grass. but the larger part oi
tAc stuff Of which grass is made. with
lglWu from the soil, is found above DIFF
irrAHt is it with clover, perhaps and other
drep rooted plants, and different it may
Va perhaps, with grass in clay or deep
soil
Careful experiments show that the great
ec portion 0l liquid manure applied upon
.ha urlace, does not drop through it like
lead IN water, tu the bottom, but that it is
Infused through the uppermost part of the
@l. ulcsS grass roots, then, are conced-
-d t0 he near The surface, topdrcSsing of
grass lands we must regard as an nditler-
eut use of manure. But we know it pro-
duees results OF value
Accepting, then, these two positions, the
ONE as 10 the descent of manure in the
Soil, and the other, as to the growth Of the
roots Of grass, another position with re-
spcct to the nature OF grass will be readi
u accepted That grass, unlike some
species oI plants, the common English
grasses, does not flourish in a dry soil, but
requires water in abundance during the
grow my season, we think is every ones
experience In our dry soil, put in ma
uure. and with a rainy season, there is a
good Yield of grass. But without frequent
r,ins upon light soil, or some means of
RETAINING moisture in the soil, our crop
fails. To have grass in perfection. de-
mands that the farmer have a suitable
Soil. that the soil should be fertile, and
that II shall be kept sufficiently moist
w ithout the last, all efforts are unavail-
nag The thing OF greatest difficulty is,
to secure water to the growing crop.
What has the close feeding OF our NOW
ing fields In autumn TO do with this = Some
say to feed grass close, to have it meet
winter in a naked condition, is to have it |
winter killed fear more that it will be |
summer killed
The field that meets the spring sun in |
thls naked state. is the soonest green. The |
sun does tins, the rain being abundant in
The early spring. The early part of June,
or towards the middle Of the month, there
i4 olten the beginning OF drought; no
snoWers-the roots OF the grass being
Hear the iorlace are soon dried-the blade
9!acNens in growth and rpens short Of It
lull Development.
Suppose, instead OF this, the fall finds i
growth or say four inches of grass-the |
crisp cold dcadens in 1.-THE winter snow
tails upon ID. and when gone leaves the |
dried %ra~s tlattened 10 tke earth. The |
spring sun is upon This coycr-half an
mch ,t loose nulchin@; the blade is slow