The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-11-23
WINTER PASTURES

IL Is desirable to avoid as tar as possible an
annual expenditure for labor in the manage
ments of our lands. We require certain
amount of forage for winter. Pulling fod.
der is Que of the operations of the farm
Well cured fodder is the most palatabe
forage which can be given to horses Sois
champagne the most agreeable Of fluids to
man. But the fodder is too expensive for
the farmers hors,, and the champagne too
expensive for the farmer man. Just think
OF farmer going into hundred acre corn
field, with gang of hands, and handling
every seRaEpts. blade Of every corn stalk
eight acres of grass day, say sixteen tons,
raked up by horse rake, teddercd by horse
power, loaded into the ragon and thence
into the barn by hay litter untouched by
human hands in the whole process.
But there is cheaper process than this
1t is one that cannot be adopted at the
North because the climate will not allow of
it. This cheaper plan is to provide win.er
pastures for mules, horses, colts and cattle,
thereby enabling them to NOW and save
their own hay without cost to us, either in
the way of negroes, mower, hay stacks or
barns.
The way to obtain good winter pasture
is simple and not expensive. Take piece
OF wood land, thin out the worthless timber,
leaving rail trees and most bearing trees
The exact distance cannot be given, because
trees differ very much in the amout of shade
which they produce. The Kentucky rule
is to thin timber, so that the ground shall
get sunlight, at least a portion of the day,
otherwise the grass will be sour, and rejec-
ted by live stock The ground should be
we'll sproute,.; grubbiug is not necessary,
though it is best. The tree tops and brush
should be piled and burned and the ashes
scattered. Except for appearance, the logs
need not to be piled and burned. The
ground should not be plowcd; grass seed
should be sown. The available live stock
OF th9 farmer should be turned upon it to
trample in the seeds. Hogs are excellent
for this purpose, feeding them shcllcd corn,
scattered as widely as possible, and feeding
in different place every day.
The seed sown, should consist of orchard,
blue, herd and meadow oat grass if the
6btHired: 6uv tIIsi1ri uf this
mixture to be sowed to the acre-onc- half
orchard grass, and the other seeds in equal
proportions.
Persons wishing an immediate use of
this pasture, may plow or harrow the sur
face, and sow rye with grass seeds In
such case the logs must be burned. The
rye will not make good grain, but will give
excellent winter and spring feed. This
operation must be performed in August or
September. But most persons will prefer
the cheaper plan, and sow in February grass
seed alone. AS soon as the native grasses
and weeds will appear, live stock should be
turned in to eat them down. They will not
hurt the young grass, but benefit it by con-
solidating the soil. So long as these weeds
and native grasses springs up they must be
re- s down. :a @ la the fall 59sy cease to grow,
until New Year, when they should again be
put upon them Ina year or two the native
grasses and weeds will disappear by close
grazing and tramping and good sward of
artificial grasses will be formed Grange