The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-05-27
Maxine PAatnPA.

$50 OAO~~S ~ AS~AAS AAOA4ouu, dUu
some of the be st dairy districts in this
country, land is selected for a pasture
as it is for any particular crop. Re-
gard is paid to its adaptability to pro-
duce large amount of fine rich grass
es. The soil or sod is prepared to re-
ceive the seed, which is selected with
special reference to the production of
grass to be eaten while it is in its green
state. Great pains are taken to render
the soil as productive as possible. Wa
ter is supplied or drained off as the
wants or the land require. Weeds and
bushes are exterminated or kept in
subsection. Fertilizers are applied as
they are to land devoted to cultivated
crops. Loose soils are rendered more
compact by the use of the roller, and
very heavy soils are loosened by the
employment of the harrow or scaritier.
Most farmers in this country, however,
neglect all these things. Land is not
selected for pasture. If it is too
rocky, broken or difficult to cultivate:
If it Is too wet or dry to pro-
duce good crops OF corn. grain, pota-
toes or roots, it is devoted to pasture &c.
Land is selected for other purposes.
but the land for pasturage is what was
rejected as unsuited for any other use.
Sometimes piece of land originally
productive is devoted to pasture pur-
poses. If this is the case it is general
ly after it has been cropped to death
1t IS first planted to corn for several
years, then sown to grain for a period
equally long, and then laid. down to
grass suited for moving purposes.
After the crop of grass becomes so
light that it scarcely pays for the work
OF cutting, the farmer concludes that
the only thing he can do with the land
IS to devote it to supporting stock dur
ing the summer, when he expects to
make the most out of them. There are
no evidences Of beneticent design in
most of the pastures in this country,
They are the work of chance or ne.
elect.
OK vs.. Horse.
An experienced farmer noticing the
statement that the OK is more profitable
on the farm than the horse gives q
little chapter of his own method
Give years ago. he says, Il pur-
chased two four-year-old mares.
bred them, and at five years old had
two nice colts, Blackhawk and Morgan
breed. l bred them again, and again
they brought me two nice colts at six
years old. At seven 1 skipped; did
not breed. At eight years old they
brought me two more, and one of the
first colts was mare, and she brought
me a good Bashaw and Morgan, and
sold the other-a horse.-for S12O.
Now | have three mares and colts and
two three-year-olds; next spring l will
have five sucking colts. And it is but
fair to presume that half of the off:
spring of tho remaining fifteen years
of the twenty, of which he bases his
calculations, will be females. Any
way, am now ready to turn off two
horses per year at, say 1920 each,
making $24O in the aggregate. -Four
years from now l will sell
four horses or mares for, say
1920 dollars each-$48O-and still
young colts coming up like mushrooms.
Two mares rightly taken care of on q
farm, will do all the work any one
man wants to help them to do, and
one may calculate that within twenty
years they will raise him fifteen colts
each, worth, at the least calculation,
500 each, making $4,000.