Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-11-29
HILLSIDE FARMING.

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HnL.SIpE FARMrSG. .-Nothwithstand.
ing the desirability Of level land for ag
ricultural purposes, and the longing eyes
with which the occupants OF hill farms
look upon the low, level lands Of their
neiehbors in the valleys beneath them.
there still remains many reasons why
hillside farming is desirable. II the en-
the agricultural domain contained moth
ing but valleys and gently undulating
slopes n certain samencss would charac-
terize the entire country, Of which tho
eve would soon tire. In case Of the
kind which we have assumed, there
would be no fear OF injury to the soil by
washing or in determining what crops
TO grow, nor the manner OF cultivation;
aud all farmers acting in conformity
with some rule long established, the
stimulus for improvement would meas
urably be removed, aud the agricultural
condition of the country would, virtual
lv, be at a stand-still. On the other
hand, where the land is broken and hill
lv. the case is entirely different, and calls
for the exercise of the best Judgment To
decide what course 10 pursue, 10 com
pete successfully with our neiglbors be.
low, aud n; the same time adopt meas.
ures 10y and through which the original
fertility of the soil may be retained, and
its productive capacity thereby increased
by juGicious manipulation.
Again, the existence Of these abrupt
elevations lead us to inquire how 10 con-
vert their declivities iuto yeIdent clad
slopes Of luxuriant vegetation, which,
while by any means is no easy task, still
it can he done with grass as tie main
factor, accompanied with patience and
perseverance,. How 10 make this grass
grow is often the vexed question when
we see it uproo,ed 10y frosts or destroy
ed by the melting SHOWS OF spring. We
have had considerable experience with
hill side farms aud know well their diff
culties, and will give our plans for sur
mounting these obstacles
The first question is fertility, y,snd how
TO obtain the means OF fertility in case
we have no means of buying IT, The
only way, therefore, is 10 make as much
of it rs possible with the limited re-
sources at command Among these,
their is nothing as good as sheep, for
they will live, thrive and multiply where
other stock would perish. In calling
them TO our assistance, we may have bnt
few at first, but let them few or many,
they should be allowed limited range
through the day, but always folded in .
movable inclosnrc at night, and in Win.
ter fed on such suitable fodder as We
have at comrnand-thc common pest
known as rag weed, if cut when in
bloom and properly cured, makes excel
lent food for sheep in Winter. -u n...
, With sheep as our main reliance, q
good lot OF hogs kept in aseparaie yard
in the Winter, aid constantly employ.
cd over and converting into manure oil
the rough material TO be had--such "A
corn-sialks, leaves from the woods,
swamp mnck, etc, the hen-house regu-
larly cleaned out once week aud the
contents mixed with three times tho
amount Of soil from the fence corDers,
road sides, lanes or anywhere il can be
obtained, together with all the ashes oh
tainable, throwing the whole into pile
and protecting il from the rains aud
SHOWS Of Winter until wanted for use,
We will SOON find tha; we have fertiliz
ing matter on our premises sufficient
TO keep Us busy hauling out and spread
ing on the land without spending our
time and money seeking commercial
manures This with our movable sheep
pens TO assist, will soon enable us 10
cover our hill-sides with luxnrisnt grass
10 lending assistance in enricbing the
soil, putting flesh on the stock, adding
10 the contents of the dairy, aud aug,
meDiing our sales Of mutton and wool.
In regard 10 what grasses are best for
the purpose, clover, Of coarse. stands at
the Lead, not only because is broad
leaves and stems are better adapted for
gathering nitrogen from the atmosphere,
bat its long top roots prnetrate the sub
soil and bring up thence the minefal
snbstapces which the plants require, and
which nothing else but bought manurrs
can supply. Being bienpiel plant, co.
yer should be turned under The second
year Of its growth and when in seeds
rye or wheat sowr thereon, sccompa.
nied by about peck &C Kentucky blue
grass and bushel Of orchard grass seed
10 The acre. the clover re seeding itself.
-(NY) 1u.E Field and FUm.