The Somerset reporter., 1886-03-17
Reclalmlng Pasture Land.


considerable land that cannot be
titled to good advantage, but which
will produce grass suitable for pas
turage, A farmer should feel that
his pastures are very inn ortant
part of his possessions. Many OF
the old hill pastures OF New Eng
land, which were once rich and pro
ductive, are now sworn out" lands.
When these were first cleared the
timber WAS of little or no value, and
it was burned off In this operation
much of the organic matter was
lost to the soil, and there was left a
great quantity of ash Or minerals.
The land was very likely sown to
rye for some time and then seeded
to grass. Finally it was turned in
to pasture, aud, after being devoted
to building up animal carcasses for
many years, got "rnn out, and has
grown up to bushes.
1t would seem good policy to turn
the old, rough mountain and hilltops
back into wood again. TO do this,
plant seed of the best trees that
grow there. Along the foot hills of
mountains dre some lands which are
some lands which are too good to be
turned back into forests. There is
but little brush upon them, and
hence so much clearing will be re-
quired as would be in the former
situations. 1t would pay in some
cases to buy fertilizers and apply
to such pastures but if one has not
the means to do this let him turn
in his farrow cows, oxen, etc. AS
the object is to reclaim this land, do
not allow the young animal Or a Itch
cows here, for they will take from
the pasture much more than the
other animals. The young stock
require a great amount of valuable
elements for building up their
frames, and the mich COW not only
turns great quantities into milk,
but much is lost from the pasture
in the manure which she deposits
in the barn, where she is taken to
be MIXED.
Sheep are considered even better
than cattle, for they are not so par
ticular what they eat, and their
manure is much better distributed
over the ground. BY feeding them
little grain, not only will the sheep
be aided, but richer manure will be
secured for fertilzing this sworn
out" land. Sow grass seed on the
poor spots of the pasture. If it is
decided not to put sheep into these
pastures, then tear ont all the brush
and burn it, and after this is done
seed down the whole.
There are some pasture lands
that can well be brought under the
pillow. Put in some rye with the
grass seed, and fertilize. This can
be done on a small piece at a time
without taking the cattle from past
urage. On all side hills, where
there is liability to wash, make the
land as mellow as possible. This
will allow the water to percolate
through, so as not to form riyulets.
The Hollanders take great pains
with their pastures, top-dressing
them every two or three years.
But the location of some of our pas
ture lands is such that we cannot
well afford to top dress as they do
in Holland,
Though seemingly small matter,
it is important that farmers go
over their pastures and break the
deposits of cattle, which are left in
heaps, and spread them over the
land. A point to guard against is
Over.stOcking pasture. Never
put on more animals than the land
will support, unless the feed here
obtained be supplemented by some
that may be brought them, as in
the case of the sheep referred to.
If the pasture be very large, fence
it off into smaller parts, changing
he cattle from one field to another;
Ibis will give the cattle new range
and the land rest.