Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-17

which by fermentation alone will yield
volatile product (ammone gas, or carbonate
of ammonia), is never aggregated together
in pastures in sufficient quantity to ferment
and consequently no such volatile products
are formed. The albuminous element in
the dung is slowly decomposed, rendered
soluble and washed into the soil by the rains,
Thus none of the material is lost, and no
fertility is taken away from the pasture by
pasturing animals, except in the follow
ing ways
First, young growing stock extract from
the pasture the material necessary TO form
their bodies, and thus carry away con-
siderable amount of phosphoric acid and
some potash. Milk cows carry away the
same elements, in about the same proper
tions, in their milk. Cattle pastured by day
and yarded at night abstract from the pas
ture ground all the elements Of fertility con-
tanned in the yard droppings, or probably
one.third of all that is gathered by the cattle
during the day.
There is no doubt that our pastures in
New England are running down and will
average to carry much less stock than form
erly But it is not because the droppings Of
the cattle are lost; it is, on the contrary, be-
cause they are not all left OH the ground, and
because we do not replace, by occasional
sowings of bone dust and plaster, the phos-
phoric acid and potash taken away in the
bodies of animals sold, and in the milk and
WOOL The bone dust replaces the phosphoric
acid and lime, and the plaster, though il
contains no potash, contains large quantities
of sulphuric acid which, acting upon the
soil, sets free the insoluble potash, which
is abundant in most pasture lands of thi:
section.
The remark which we have thus confuted
is taken from the writing of the editor
whose sighting reference to science in con
nection with agriculture we recently ad
verted to. A little more familiarity with
the science he contemns would have saved
him from making such gross mistake.
Perhaps it may be well here to briefly
state the most practical methods now in ust
for maintaining the fertility of pasture lands
or for restoring them when partially run out
The keeping of sheep has long been known
as one of the most effectual means of cleans
ing and enriching a pasture. Sheep b,
their browsing keep down the growth o
shrubbery and trees, and they also eat man.
weeds untouched by other stock. Their drop
pings are fine, and evenly distributed, AM
: the habit of sheep to rest at night upon tn
summit of knobs, or hills, gives to those yer.
: spots where the grass soonest fails the extr
supply of fertilization it requires. In thi
way there is hardly pasture that will no
improve under sheep, Notwithstanding tn
considerable material removed in their woo
and in the bodies of those sold to tn
butcher. 1t is indeed naturally very poo
pasture that sheep will not benefit.
+ But skilful and intelligent dairy farme
need not go into sheep, unless he wishes, il
order to keep up or restore his pasturagt
But he must not yard his cows at night,
save trouble, or to gather manure for hi
meadows and tillage land at the expense @
his pasture. He must be willing to go owe
the land frequently with the long handle
maui to scatter the droppings, with th
bush hook to cut bushes, and with tear
and grapple to draw out the larger ones b
the roots. If the brakes are gaining on hir
: he must NOW them, burn them scatter bon
dust, plaster and grass seed over the spo
and scarify it well with sharp harrow.
: the pasture is badly run out, it will pay we
to feed each COW four to six quarts of bra
at each milking, turning them right bac
to pasture that the richness of the feed ma
= go to replace the substance taken away i
the milk. Young stock should never b
put into poor grass, and they ought to hav
y enough extra, in the form Of grain or brar
: to prevent them from impoverishing tn
u land. We have seen number Of badl
worn pastures entirely restored under tn
above course of treatment.