Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-05-15
Agricultural.
THE COST OF GETTING A GOOD CATCH tIN AN
EDITORIAL OTFICH)


THE COST OF GETTING GOOD CATCH t1N AN
EDITORIAL oFT1cE).
The secret Of good catch Of grass is a
good seed bed The importance Of this mat
ter isn't half appreciated. In 10 vital a mat
ter az laying down TO grass, on which the in
come Of the farm may largely depend, this
foundation of success must not be overlook
ed. In these days Of good harrows for all
kinds Of soil there is no excuse for poor
seed bed. Put on six cords Of barnyard ma
nure per acre with a Kemp spreader, and
thoroughly harrow in. Apply also 100 bush
els of good wood ashes with the same nipple
ment and harrow it in lightly. Seed literally
and evenly and cover with brush harrow.
Then II you don't get good catch it won't
be your fault Some may consider this too
heavy manuring, but II the land is retentive
such dressing will pay handsomely. What's
the use of doing the heavy work of seeding
down unless it is done right p Homestead.
The average value Of six cords Of manure,
including the cost Of applying may be esti-
mated at $50; 100 bushels of ashes, with la
Dor in applying, cost $50 cost Of seed,
blowing narrowing, etc, $3.50; interest on
cost of land and on money invested s..
Here we have a total cost Of $50. 30 for seed
ing an acre of land with grass. Nothing be-
ing said to the contrary we are left to pre-
sumo that this editorial acre WAS supposed to
be in the usual condition of lands seeded to
grass, enriched for the crop Of the previous
year, or for each of several years preceding.
The sum Of S72. so invested in advance on an
acre Of grass, the land being previously in
good condition, should give full crop on the
wellknown legal principle that good price
warrants good article. But how will it pay
the average farmer who generally gets about
81 per ton for the hay which he feeds We
say be generally gets about 81, but be often
gets less farmer has Just sold four
years-old heifer for SOS The heifer had
probably consumed six tons of hay. Deduct
ing SO for pasturage four years we have SIS,
or SO per ton, for the hay The average far
mer seldom realizes the market value Of hay
in the profit on his stock When hay is high
he will be fortunate if he gets more than half
its market value for that which he feeds on
the farm. But let us find the market value
of the hay to be grown on this newly-seeded
editorial acre. Call the product two tons an
nually for three years and the value of the
standing grass SIP per ton. We have then,
at the end of three years, not quite enough
to pay the first outlay in seeding
We are advised, first, to feed our acre with
eight cords of stable manure, and then to ap-
ply 100 bushels of good wood ashes Ashes
are valuable as fertilizer mainly for the pot
ash which they supply. Eight cords of ma
nure contain potash enough to supply several
heavy crops of grass. The addition of 100
bushels of good wood ashes makes total of
500 or GOO pounds of potash for single acre
This kind of fertilizing is very much like feed
horse half bushel of oats Immediately af-
ter he has had his ration of corn meal. If
the soil was not deficient iu potash before the
application, so large a quantity at one dose
would be likely to prove positively injurious