The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-09-14
LAYING Dow1 pKRMAnxsr PASTURES.

The first thing to be donein laying down
arabic land to grass is that the land y well
cleansed, and as much q possible freed from
those weeds which, iElett to germiuate un-
molestod, are likelYsto be troublesome Nor
many years to CONF Therefore, the ysar
before the seeds arr sown, it will be necc,s-
sary to make g{bd summerland sowiSy
thereupon. The seed bs2
should be perfectly even and fine, and lighE
ly narrowed befofe and after sowing Il
sown by hand, an experienced sower shouS
be employed, and q still day chosen for thS
purpose. Whether corn (grain Ed should
or should not be sown with the graY seeds
is matter Of dispute, but tlemost general
Sss!sssly nssss,sss slss me- sss .s5.s ;sas ipi
barley or wheat. Some tel "a 3hq cofn' crop
is sure to rob the grass, aud fsftiaily to
smother and hinder the growth d the finer
sorts; but others, with equal confidence,
maintain that the shelter afforded by the
growing corn is of great use to the young
seeds on strong land. Most of us would be
inclined to adopt this latter view, as the
value of the corn crop is an important ele-
ment in the consideration of this expensive
operation. Oats are thought to be better
than barley or wheat for this purpose, but
they should be thinly sown.
When the young grass is three or four
inches above the ground it should be rolled,
and If sown without corn, the weak places
may be mended by resolving if sown with
corn, then the resolving should be done i'm
mediately after the corn is harvested
Much depends, of course ON the choice of
~ -,
their selection.
Another very important element in the
consideration of this subject is the quality
of the soil. A good medium loamy soil is
tho best adapted for permanent PASTURE
Where the land is too light and sandy, no
proper accumulation of vegetable mould
takes place round the roots of the plant,
which, by a continuous underground growth,
and the action of the earth worms, would
annually deepen and improve its own seed
bed. These conditions cannot be fulfilled in
a sandy soil, which, owing to its porosity,
causes decay of the roots more rapid than
their growth, and is consequently sensibly
felt by the plant in dry and parching sea-
sons. In very stiff, cold clays on the con.
trary, there is an absence of all porosity in
- tho Pf5esa aeis.ea1 af iay1SE dSsasa ss g m:
pede the growth of the roots of the plants
and the creation of rich humus BY the earth
worms. Both these extremesof very light
and very heavy soils are unfavofable to the
growth of good herbages. 8
Let us suppose, that the grabs has been
properly laid down, on suitable land that has
been duly drained, cleansed and, leveled-
still our real work is not yet done. How
ever promising the young grass may look,
we must not take liberties with il, and sup
pose it will bear the de- I.letorr practice,
which is resented even by old aad we'll es-
tablishsd pastures. Therefore 1 cannot
agree with those who feed young grass tho
first winter after sowing; nor 10 believe
that heavy coat of manure ii suited to
plants in SO tender stage of gpwth. The
propAr Gonrsa would be to gss the young
layer light top-dressing oF sfiort and well
rotted manure early p the winter, which
will both protect the plant from the effects
of frost, and encourage its early growth in
the spring. I would Soll and very lightly
bush-harrow the layefln March, Cor when
the land is in tilth in the spring. Ed, } and
then NOW it late, soy at the end of June or
the beginning of Suly, 80 as to allow the
best sorts Of grass to shed their seeds, which
happens in the middle Of June. 1t is to
the future, and not the present hay stack,
We must look, since any iltimed parsimony
now, or any premature desire Of realization,
will deprive us of permanent profit for the
sake Of very doubtful present advantage.
In the autumn the layer may be grazed
with cattle, but not with sheep, for they bite
too close, and pull up the young grass by the
roots. Nor should the cattle remain on for
too long period; and any tufts of rough
grass they leave should be mown. The next
season will be critical and trying, as two ex-
haustive crops will have been taken from
the land, and, therefore, liberal coat of
good farm yard manure should be spread on
the pasture as soon as the cattle are removed
from it.
Above all, it is necessary; in order to
keep pastures in profitable state, not to
NOW it too often, unless an adequate return
can be made in MANURE. 1t is not sufficient
ly considered that the hay crop removes
more nitrogen from the land than rye, oats,
barley or wheat, and that not only is no re-
turn made to the mown meadow in theshape
of special manures, buN the stock fed on the
aftermath are often driven off at night to
help to enrich the arabic lands. Can we
wonder that the procesA of detel iorhtion
should proceed SO rapidlyin pastures thus
treated, and that the most valuxbIe grasses
hA.N, 10 II, ~