The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-04
from the Boston Globe.l
THE FARM-YARD CLUB OF JOTHAM.
BY DR.. George B. Loring

Mr.. Hopkins announced the subject I'M
der debate to be
PASTURE LANDS,
and called on John Thomas to lay before
the Club such information as he had Sc
cured since the last meeting.
"Mr. President" said Mr.. Thomas, 81
last meeting upon the subject of renovat-
ing pasture lands. l think we have but
little valuable information upon the matter,
beyond the statements made at that time.
1t is undoubtedly a good plan to keep pas
lures free from bushes, and to stock them
U.,.LAl~.,s &c ..- t--..---- s'rr-y -
renovating them when they are overrun
and exhausted-except that in this latter
case you must apply some kind of feriil-
izer. / have looked over the statements
which have been made on this subject, from
time to time, in reports and essays, anc
they all agree in the views expressed here.
Not many years ago the Board OF Agricul-
ture in Massachusetts issued circular to
the farmers of that State, making inquiries
upon the very question now before us and
from the statements made in ieply, they
I take the liberty of reading from one Of
the annual reports of that body:
1t is known to all who have investigated
this subject, they say, that all pastures
which have been constantly and closely
| cropped for many years without receiving
suitable returns must of necessity be great
| " exhausted of those substances which in
| the economy of nature are appropriated to
the growth and support of bone and mus
Gle and to the production of milk; and that
thorough renovation can be affected only
by restoring these substances to the soil.
| Different modes of restoring these proper
ties have been practiced, but it matters lit
tie how the effect is produced, provided il
shall be thorough and at saving cost.
In every ten gallons of milk there il
about half pound Of bone earth hence
COW that gives twenty quarts Of milk day
takes from the soil about two pounds O
superphosphate of lime every week and
to restore this, three pounds of bone dus
are necessary. Bone dust and sulphuri'
acid mixed in equal parts by weight ant
left until the acid has decomposed the sub
stance of the bones, have been applied will
satisfactory results. BY this process tn
substances of which the bones are compose
are very infinitely divided, and are thu
more readily taken up by the roots of tn
plants. This preparation may be conven
iently applied by mixing it with plaster
loan, powdered charcoal, ETC., or to thi
mixture may be added thirty times its bull
of water and applied in liquid state.
Bones are best suited to dry or well
drained land, and may take the place of
part or the whole of the farm-yard manure
When thus used it will be well to combln
them with wood ashes.
Ploughing exhausted pastures will be
little avail, except to destroy weeds an
bushes, without suitable application {
! manure, as poughing will restore nothin
of which the soil has been deprived by Ion
,, and close feeding. Manure in suitable quar-
{ titles is indispensable; but any kind thi
t will produce good crops of Timothy an
clover will answer the purpose.
1t is the opinion of the committee, forme
upon some experience. that old pasture
may in many instances be renovated
= turning them over smoothly late in the al
tumn, applying with barrow liber
quantity of manure in the spring and see
ing with red-top, Timothy and clover, wi
or without crop &c wheat, barley or 9th
small grain II the season continues dr.
l., after the crop of grain, il there is any, h
20 been removed, the young plants will la
guish, and they must be protected fro
close feeding; if the season should be WI
A heavy growth will follow. and admit
pasturing freely.
1t may be and probably is better a
more thorough mode of operation to pla