The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-26
Improvement Of Meadows.


A statement is going the rounds of
the press that the hay crop of the
United States amounts in annual value
to over $500, 900, 900, and that hay,
rather than cotton. is king. Granted
that the statements true, are all efforts
in further improvement of our grass
lands to stop here, or are we to make
still farther improvement, and yet pos,
sibly double this exhibit, and so cheaper
hay that it shall still farther take the
place of grains as food for stock, and
leave a yet larger margin of grain to
be sold, or consumed in the making of
flesh foods for our rapidly extending
markets.? 1t is an evident fact, here in
Ohio, where grain-raising had suddenly
attained prominence, that, although the
meadows have been largely trenched
upon to afford pillow lands. the hay crop
is actually yearly increasing, and as a
matter of fact, some of the great agen-
cies for improvement, except rotation
of crops, to produce. grass, have been
put into practice, leaving drainage and
brought in later.
Improvement in our grass lands must.
if permanent, commence at the very
Notwithstanding, filming the soil,
liberal and thorough seeding, and if to
be retained in grass, seasonable top
dressing. So far as reports go to show,
drainage is the important step to take
in securing great grass crops, the most
valid reason for this being that nature
is quite profuse in bestowing ammonia
and the manurial properties by means
of rain and air, and if the former in its
fall, passes over the ground to its dis
charge, the soil gets only homeopathic
dose, hut if this rainfall is drawn into
the soil, and thus discharged, the soil
must retain this element. Our most
desirable grasses are not marine plants,
and standing water is deadly enemy
to the life of tame grass roots, and not
only does drainage meet the end in
view, but also attains another object
scarcely less important-the eradica-
ton of wild grasses that will appear on
moist land. Not only does drainage
assist in these mentioned ways, but the
sooner the soil is freed from surplus
water in the spring, the sooner it re-
spends to the warming rays of the sun
with quickened vegetation, that almost
sure precursor of an abundant hay crop.
The preparation of land for the crops,
and the care bestowed upon them, will
tell very largely in increased hay crops
that are to follow. While not an adyo-
cate of deep blowing, yet in some way
the soil should be broken below the fur
row, to give the clover and other grass
oh To IL
ments usually stored abundantly in the
deep, raw soils. While this cultivation
is going on, care must be taken to pre-
vent the weeds from taking possession,
even in part, for weeds will crowd out
grass, and the support stolen by weed
stalk would amply sustain a valuable
bunch of grass. Not only is the pres
ence of weeds a sign of thin grass, but
it has its effect in destroying the value
of the hay, and, if the truth was known,
of the vast amount of hay estimated
above a very considerable amount
would be found weeds rated at $40 per
ton. The yield OF grass is quite largely
dependent upon the character of the
seed sown, and if economy is practiced
in the amount of seed, OF inferior
kinds sOwn because they are CHEAP"
the real purpose of seeding will be
thwarted in part. Whether orchard
grass, red top, clover, timothy, or less
we'll known varieties are sown, sow the
best seed that can be purchased; know
that it is free from impurities and is
possessed of vitality. and SOW the full
measure that experience teaches is re-
quired.
Year by year the damage by pasturing
meadows is more apparent. The mead
ow should be exclusively place to cut
hay, and not for grazing. Cut the aft
ermath, and use it for soiling the COWS
in the fall. The meadows are not then
damaged; the feed cut and fed in the
barn or yards goes twice as far, and
nature is left to produce a mulch for
winter protection. How long mead
ow shall remain in grass is matter
that individual experience and the
changing condition of things must de-
termine. a meadow in my mind has
been in grass nearly fifty years. Cattle
or stock are never allowed to run upon
it; nor in that time was it ever plowed
OF received load of fertilizer Every
other fall it is smartly dragged with a
sharp harrow, and little mixed grass
seed sown, and year after year its rec
ord is two tons of hay per acre, besides
the aftermath. With other lands, rota-
ton of crops and liberal fertilization
would be required, or frequent dress
ings of manure. The general law that
governs is to put the land intended for
grass into the best possible condition,
and when once in grass, 'feed your
land before it is hungry, rest it before
worn, and weed it before foul. Cor.
Country Gentleman.