Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-04-19
agricultural department.
RECLAIMING PASTURE
LANDS.

LANDS.
There is often on a general farm
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 important
part of his possessions. Many OF
the old hill pastures of new England,
which were once rich and productive
are now "worn-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 great guam
tity of ash or minerals. The land
was very likely sown to rye for some
time, and then seeded to grass. FL
nally it was turned into pasture. and
after being devoted to building up
animal carcasses for many years,
got "run 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 are some lauds which are
too good to be turned back into for
ests. There is but little brush upon
them, and hence so much clearing
will not be required 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 10 do this, let him
turn in his farrow COWS, oxen, etc.
AS the object is to reclaim this land,
do not allow the young ANIMALS or
mich COWS here for they will take
from the pasture much more than the
other animals. The young stock re-
quire a great amount of valuable ele-
ments 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 ma
nure 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 pal
ticular what they eat, and their ma
nure is much better distributed over
the ground. By feeding them little
grain, not only will the sheep be aid
ed, but richer manure will be secured
for fertilizing this "worn out" land
Sow grass seed on the poor spots OF
the pasture. If it is decided not tC
put sheep into these pastures, ther
tear out all the brush and burn it
and after this is done seed down the
whole.
There are some pasture lands tina
can well be brought under the pillow
Put in some rye with the grass seed
and then fertilize. This can be done
on a small piece at time without
taking the cattle from pasturage. Oh
all side hills, where there is liabilit,
to wash, make the land as mellow a
possible. This will allow the waite
to percolate through, so as not t.
form rivulets. The Hollanders tax
great pains with their pastures, top
dressing them every two OF thre
years. But the location of some O
our pasture lands is such that W
cannot well afford to top-dress ther
as they do in Holland.
Though seemingly small matter
it is important that farmers go owe
their pastures and break the deposit
of the cattle, which are left in heap
and spread them over the land. /
point to guard against is over-stocE
ing pasture. Never put on MOI
animals than the land will supper
unless the feed here obtained be SUI
plemented by some that may b
brought them, as in the case of IL
sheep referred to. If the pasture
very large, fence it off into SMALL
parts, changing the cattle from OF
field to another; this will give tt
cattle new range, and the land res
-CultiUdtOr.