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

1t Is desirable to avoid as far 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 ope Of the operations of the farm
Well cured fodder is the most palatable
forage which can be given to horses SO is
champagne the most agreeable Of fluids to
man; But the fodder is too expensive for
the farmers horse, and the champagne too
expensive for the farmer man Just think
OF farmer going into hundred acre corn
field, with gang of hands, ard handling
eysSE S,af ssRsEats blade q every corn stalk
eighe-acres Of grass day. say sixteen tons,
raked up by horse rake, teddercd by horse
power, loaded into the .uagon and thence
INTO the barn by hay litter untouched by
human hands in the whole process.
But there is cheaper process than this
:, is oGc that carnot 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
Ihe 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 sproutes.; grubbing 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 tho farmer should be turned upon it to
trample in the seeds Hogs are excellent
for this purpose, feeding them shclled corn,
scattered as widely as possible, and feeding
in different place every day
The sce0 sewg, E:uld cr,.sis, 3c or.i....; I,
aiue, herd and meadow oat grass, if the
t,.r.H,ied!!- Ouu busbci vf this
mixture 70 be sowed tc the acre-one.h 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 rs these weeds
and native grasses springs up they must be
fed down. Ip the fall they cease to grow,
andisown grasses shouG1 be left ungra1oI
until New Year, when they should again be
put upon them. In 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.
IN