Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-08-18
Fall Treatment of Grass Lands.

Out of the large number of responses re-
ceived to our list of questions proposed last
spring chiefly in reference to grasses and
their management, nine-tenths stated that
they pastured in the fall, to a greater or less
extent. Another significant fact in this con-
necton is that nine-tenths of these nine
tenths who practice fall pasturing' deprecate
the practice, believing it to be injurious.
Had we asked one other question, DO you
top-dress your meadows, either in fall or
spring. we have no doubt that nine-tenths
would have replied in the negative. The
responses received correspond with our OBJ
servations on these matterssand we can not
be far out of the way in our conclusions in
top dressing. The prevailing practice then.
is 10 pasture meadows in the fall, and never
top dress with any material whatever
Grass is usually cut at or near the period
ofits maturity. The energies Of the plant
have been concentrated and expended in the
effort Of reproduction, and state of ex>
haustion necessarily follows-a season of
rest, so TO speak-during which the plant re-
cuperates its exhausted energies, and stores
up in its roots the material for future
growth. The foliage pat forth by the first
feeble efforts Of the plant after it is cut,
plays an important part in this work of re-
cuperation, and if is cropped close and
late, can any one doubt that proportionate
injury to next year crop must result2 Be-
fore the moving, the roots were shaded
and the ground kept moist and in growing
condition. All this is changed by the re-
moval of the crop. The protecting shade is
gone, the hot rays Of the July and Angus.
suns are let in, drinking up the moisture
parching the ground, drying out and kill
ing the roots, which are now IN no condition
to resist such whitening effects. Under
such circumstances, can any one doubt the
beneficial effects of liberal top-dressing of
ct. Lot.
the plants into Immediate action, causing
them to throw out growth to take the
place of the one removed? Instead of this
however, no fertilizer is applied, and stock
is turned in TO eat off the protection which
the plants unaided would supply. If this
cropping is continued late, as it generally
is, the field is left bare with exposed roots,
when winter sets in, and the following
spring the owner wonders why his grass
has frozen out so badly. On wet meadows
the tramping OF stock has a most injurious
effect, and they always select the best Ofthe
grass, leaving the worthless wild species 70
flourish and obtain the mastery.
1t must be remembered that the whole
process of raising hay is an unnatural one
When nature manages grass crop, without
interference, reseeding goes on every year
and young, fresh, vigorous plants are com
ing forward constantly TO replace those that
have fulfilled their mission. There is a
constant growth shading the ground and
protecting the roots from summer drouth
and falling down in the fall, furnishes a
protecting blanket during the winter, and
rich top-dressing in the spring We can
not hope to work successfully against ma
ture in any undertaking, and hence the
man who never returns TO his grass lands
an equivalent for what is removed, and
who annually crops his meadows early and
late, finds them run OUT in a short time,
and he is compelled to renew them at the
expense Of very much more time and labor
than would be necessary TO preserve them.
The practice Of one of the successful farm.
ers Of this country will commend itself 10
every one He top-dresses every year,
literally, and then feeds in the fall, accord
ing 70 circumstances-if the aftermath is
light, he does not turn in at all; if very
heavy and likely 10 impede the growth Of
the succeeding crop, he pastures tito a cor
responding extent. Any fine fertilizer
barnyard or road scrapings, lime, ashes,
compost plaster, etc.--which you h9ye on
hand. or can be obtained readily, should
be applied without hesitation or unneces-
sary delay.-OhiO Farmer.