Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-22
miscellaneous.
Renovatisg Pasture Land.

The matter Of improving our pastures
which have been so badly neglected in
wears gone BY is subject for serious con-
sideration BY all thoughtful farmers.
Where land can he plowed, maDured. and
the soil put in fine condition. permanent
pastures may be obtained. On billy pas
lures. which at one time were our best
grazing land, we find bushes OF all kinds
growing, that return a very small profit to
The owner. When we remember that the
annual valne of pastures in the United
States is at least $3.50, 900 900, it is Of
great importance that the very best modes
of management be well understood and
adopted One method to follow where
land cannot be plowed is To burn the
ground over in the spring. sowing differ
ent kinds OF 0ras-seed quite thickly after
ward. would then SOW plaster and ash
es. as regard plaster one Of the cheapest
fertilizers used upon land where it works
well. Plaster brings in clover. cattle
crop it closely, and by this method we get
the permanent sod that produces that fine.
dense mass OF velvety grass which is so
promotive of the growth of stock, or the
production of "gilt-edge" butter.
Good results can be obtained by pas
turing hogs upon worn-out pastures. They
pulverize the soil bv roofing up brakes
and bushes. BY sowing grass-seed OF va
rious kinds afterward, you receive
double profit in the benefit Of your pas
lures and in the growth of the swine.
With nv past experience | have no doubt
that by inclosing small piece Of ground
with a movable fence, which may be
shifted from place to place, the hogs Will
do good service Upon high, rough.
rocky land. would recommend sheep as
the best renovators. The animals seem
TO delight in this kind OF pasturing; leav-
ing their droppings upon the highest
points thew are washed down by rains.
thus manuring the land over considerable
spaces. BY keeping sheep n few years
and then following with cattle you get ex-
cellent pasturing.
While we are endeavoring to bring up
. our pastures it would be well to look back
and find the cause for worn-out pastures.
We must recollect we have been extract
ing what nature has given to The soil in
the shape of beef, butter and cheese with
out any remuneration, so that our finer
grasses have given place to a coarse.
rough. unpalitabls grass that stock will
not eat, and then follow the bushes.
me that by judlcious burning in the spring
and sowing grass-seed, by the use OF plas-
ter, ashes or bone meal, by Keeping
sheep, hogs, and the fattening of cat
tie, by closer cropping, supplement
ed with merl or bran if necessary, our
pastures may be brought back to their
original state of fertility. 1t does not injurc
our best grasses in permanent pastures to
Craze closely. The varieties which will
not bear to he eaten down may as well die
out and make room for those that will
thicken into a perfect mat, like the sward
on all first-class pastures. We have the
rich manures of commerce, aided by
plaster, lime and ashes, to produce the
finest grasses We cannot rob nature,
however long we may try it. She requires
the plants adapted to the soil. Adaptation
and manure. with judcious selection of
grasses seem to be the basis upon which
we must depend for permanent pasture.