Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-06-07

"A paper read az meetings OF the Board OF AgriCul-
turc by f. NJ. Goodwin of Hartland, member of the
Boardl
1t is a topic OF frequent discussion
imong farmers, yet but slow progress is
made in tho way Of increased prediction
By referring to the report Of the depart =
ment of agriculture for the year 1860 |
find The average yield per acre for tina
year put down ut 1910 pounds; for The
ear lcoo IL ~ puu down at . leo nnunIs
Thus it is shown that the total ncrea-a
per acre for the last twenty years was little
more Ian 500 pounds, which s far from
what may be obtained.
However, there is one lamentable fact
which has worked untavorably towards "a
more desirable result-that while new
vegetables and new cereals have frequent.
ly been brought to public notice, no new
grass has made its appearance in the
memory of. the "oldcst inhabitant." The
same timothy, the same red top and the
same red clover are used in seeding down
our meadows to day that We're used b,
farmers century or more ago
Tho high price of hay IN all parts OF
nc state, and the annually increasing
demand for it, while it must reu,ain tb,
chict dependence Of the farmer for til,
support OF his stock during the winter
sason when tho pastures are locked in
nost and covered with snow, should in
lucc every grade of farmer. from thu
wealthy landlord with his hundreds o!
acres down 10 tho humble cottager who
Ills his rented land to make it the para
mount crop. Even the theoretical idea of
making two blades Of grass grow whore
but one grows now may be reduced TO
practice with the improved implements
which lave been introduced and the new
modes of tillagc which have been adopted
III the management of every well conduct
ed larmstead.
A practice which gives very satisfactory
results in tho production of hay upon IL
LAY soil is to ,urn piece of land in TIA.
ftIl and d"Tmg the winter dress 1t with
twenty cart loads Of stable manure spread
broadcast, and crop it with corn-ope Of
'Ao very best crops to aid in renovatinn
he land, leaving the sol filled with
cots charged with organic matter The
'.orn stubble is turned down late in the
Ftll as can be well done before freeziug
weather, avoiding all balks and shallow
arrows. a. they always impair the future
aFop Thorough blowing is necessary for
any crop, and especially SO for crop of
nay.
AS early IN the spring ~ the land will
permit pulverizing harrow is run over
he field sufficiently to make the ronoh
places smooth and the uneven plain" and
thoroughly pulverize the soil, SO that the
seeds when cast upon it may readily take
root and grow.
The method of seeding upon the in
verted sod is seldom practiced except in
having piece of land lily suiled to Il
hood crop 1t does not give as good ro-
sults-the field cannot be made as even
and smooth, and the young grass upon it
not unfrequently suffers materially, from
the nature of the case, in tunes of drou h
And as a rule the grass does not hold
out, 10 speak in common phrase, as upon
field previously titled with hoed crop.
giving way to wild or uncultivated varir.
lies much earlier. However, upon lighter,
III re triab!e soils tins method of SEEDING
with light drcssingo OF manure applied MT
the same time may give equally as good
results as when the field has been longer
lIllou' bApeIluUut lDUsJ uetCrmlne the
practice to be adopted by the occupant OF
the soil.
A little experimenting was resorlcd 10
for the purpose of delerm ming the varie-
ties and the amount Of seed per acre to b..
used betoro adopting any fixed rule in
regard to the matter At first several
vhl ietles we're sown together upon the
Same field; but in consequence OF the diff
ference OF time in the ripening of those
used, ms some would have passed perfec
ton while others were yet green ami i'm
mature, the practice was condemned as
unsatisfactory. Orchard grass ripened
the earliest Of all, and is not suited TO all
varieties of soils. Il fl ,urishcs best in a
deep, rich, rather damp soil 1t has the
habit of growing more aud more each year
IN little tufts or tussocks, especially on up
land meadows, leaving a rough, uneven
surface twill disappoint the average
farmer. as it will not bear neglect in tic
slightest degree.
Italian rye grass proved but little better,
yet Y made nutritious hay which was
rei>hed by ali kinds Of stock; bit while