The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-04-20

From the forthcoming report Of the Michigan
Board OF Agricultural
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD
Pastures of Great Britain.
BY PROF. W. ]. BEAL.

is only true in neglected fields, as is
shown by the following:
In a report of Lawes and Gilbert, the
most celebrated English experimenters,
they arrive at this general result; That
most manures which much increased the
produce of hay, at the same time very
much increased its proportion of grama-
ceous herbage," often changing the rela-
tive quality from 76 per cent. to 81 per
cent. By the above they mean that the
true grasses crowd out the weeds when
the ground is highly manured. There
are few weeds that are not diminished
by manuring, but the most ofthem are di-
minished. Lawes and Gilbert made some
very interesting experiments with differ
ent manures on permanent meadow
land
In addition to the above, l wish to
briefly refer to another remarkable point.
At great labor and expense they tried
similar pieces of meadows with different
fertilizers, The change in relative pro-
portion of plants in the meadow was
very striking.
By irrigation, in England, it has been
found that some grasses increase, others
decrease; that large and innutritlous
herbs in pastures are destroyed by irri-
cation, their place being supplied by the
best grasses" Docks and a few others
are an exception to this rule. i,
One great cause of deterioration OF
meadow land the English have learned,
that is, "by allowing grass to get too old
before cutting" This not only makes
the hay of poorer quality, but it weakens
the plants. This fact cannot be too
strongly impressed upon farmers every
where. This principle is we'll understood
and practiced by the gardener. He knows
that his plants will grow larger and last
longer if he pinches the fower-buds of,
or if he prevents them from going to
seed. We can prolong the life Of nearly
every herb by preventing it from seed
ing. Wheat may be made to last another
year by beyond its usual time if the How
er-stalks are kept cut back. Nothing is
more trying to clover than to permit 1t to
90 to seed. The earlier hay is cut, the
better for the strength and longevity of
the plants. Among our farmers there is
still a difference as to the best time to
cut grass for hay. Most of them believe
it is best to NOW when the plants are in
blossom, but many OF them wait longer
| have Just given well-established rule,
that for the good of the plant cut before
the flowers appear. In the American
Agriculturist for 1875, page 2l3, Prof. w.
0. Atwater gives the latest conclusions
of the chemist on the proper time to cut
hay: at depends Qst) upon the feed
ing value of the crop gathered; l2d) upon
the value of the aftergrowth (3d) upon
the value of the roots and stubble left to
enrich the soil for another crop" He
saws: "We are forced to the conclusion
that, as far as the feeding value of the
crop is concerned, the most profitable
time for harvesting clover is a little be-
fore the period of full blossom. The ex-
periments upon other grasses have not
been as extensive, but so far as they have
been made, as we'll as from analogy, we
may adopt the same conclusions" And
he adds "These results, obtained by
positive science, agree with the expert
ence of the most observing, intelligent,
practical men," Another thing, if we
cut early, we save more time for the Sec
ond growth for another moving or feed
ing. The whole of the article referred to
is worth careful study.
am not a chemist, nor have l made
careful experiments to find the best time
to cut hay but in an address, January,
1872, printed in the Report of the Mich
igan Board of Agriculture, on theoretical
grounds; with some observation, stated
that the grass should be cut earlier than
is the practice with most farmers-a little
before the plants were in flower. Several
reasons are there given, some of which
are the same as now given by Prof At
water.
Again and again the best English farm
ers have proven that it pays to drain wet
land for grasses. We have often seen the
same thing done in different parts of this
State, always with good results. Such
fields stand the drought better and yield
more and better feed. The sedges die
out. There is always an improvement,
notwithstanding the fears and cautions
expressed before ditching. l cannot hear
of a pasture anywhere that has been in
jured by tillng. never expect to.
Two other customs may now be added
in the treatment of English pastures.
The droppings of cattle are often broken
up and scattered to prevent rank spots,
which are not eaten off by stock 1t
takes less time than might be supposed.
They also NOW off small patches of grass
at a time where it is found running to
seed. The small quantity at time is
readily eaten on the ground by the
stock, as it willis and partially cures.
Thistles and many other weeds are treat
ed in the same manner. In place of the
weeds and seeding grasses will often
spring up fresh bite, very agreeable to |
stock of all kinds. In pastures in this |
country we often see June grass and other |
grasses seeding early in the season, thus |
weakening the roots The dead, dry tops |
are left all summer, where, if cut off in
time or eaten of, there would be good |
supply of fresh herbage all the season.
After getting large number of replies
from some of the best farmers of Eng
land last year (1875) in summary given
by Morgan Evans, he says
at appears to be the general practice
of those who have laid down permanent
pasture, to select for the purpose the
loamy, retentive portions of the farm,
and to cultivate the lighter, more easily
worked or arabic land. At the latest
date the most popular grasses are timo-
thy, alsike, several fescues, white clover,
rye grass, and few others. More seeds
are sown to the acre than was formerly
thought necessary; brushing of light or
light narrowing follows the sowing. Some
NOW and some pasture the young grass
the first season, being careful not to cut
too close The use of artificial foods for
grazing stock is very highly spoken of as
an effectual way to improve pastures.
There isno difference of opinion as to the
great value of top-dressing of farmyard
mamma nn nrnsa land y