The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-11-23
Fall Pasturing.

Eall EaSturlng.
Flint, in his work on Grasses and
Plants discusses this subject and gives
the practices AMI views of several
farmers, A large proportion of those
who are in the habit Of Fall.feedine
speak like the following, from prac.
tical farmer. who says: II feed of
slightly, although it would probably be
better for the next crop if I did not
My COWS, however, like it, and, as they
pay me well at the milk-pail, / like to
see them enjoy themselves Another
IN answer to the questions of the cir
cular. "Do you feed off the after.
growth Of your moving lands in the
fall? Do you think it an injury or a
benefit to the field to feed it Off" says,
Il do generally, but consider it an in
jury to the field" Another says: Il
do feed off. moderately, the after
growth Of my moving fields, and be-
lieve the grass worth much more so fed
than If lett on the ground to rot. A
dense mass of dead grass is also much
in the way of the scythe and the rake,
the next year, A practical farmer in
another section of the country says: 81
feed off the after growth of moving
lands only wnen l am compelled to do
so in dry seasons, for want cf pasture
| think it an injury to feed off, unless
there is large growth, which is better
to be raten, so that it will not fall down
and heat the roots aud Kill them."
Another says: II feed my moving
lands in the fall, and think it is BEN
eft to the field 10 all cases where a top
dressing is used, and of no injury to an
old field that is plowed once in three
or four years, Where large growth
IF after. feed remains on the land, it is
like mulching trees-kills the grass
roots and makes grand shelter in win,
ter for MICE" Another farmer says ::
Il feed it of and then top,dress it, and
think it benefit to the land, but
should consider it an injury if did not
sop dress An experienced practical
farmer writes me as follows: II feed it
off. but think it an injury to the field
to do so, and | should much prefer not
to feed moving lands at all. The grass
holds in longer, and is of better quail
.ty. | feed it off because it is necessary
to exc out comfortable support fer
my Stock And another: "To some
extent. / do not think it beneficial to
the land to feed much every year, nor
very injurious to feed some; but to feed
close l deem highly injurious" A
very experienced farmer, of large OBJ
servation, writes me: "To some extent
[ feed it off, not from choice, but con-
senience. The treading of the cattle
IS some injury, and they feed on the
best kinds Of grass, and leave the wild
grasses to extend the area of their
growth. In my experience moving
grounds are kept in the best condition
by taking off the first and second crops
with the scythe, and biennially dressing
with compost manures."
This accords with the experience of
another practical farmer, who says:
My practice is to feed the after. growth
or NOW it. To take all from the soil
without returning an equivalent would
De injurious. My custom is to top.dress
my moving grounds with good compost
manure, about fifteen cart loads to the
acre once in two or three years. por-
ton of lots in one year, and portion
the next. Where the ground is not
liable to wash-carry the manure of
| prefer spreading the manure in au-
tumn; it is dissolved by the fall rains
and winter SHOWS, and the grass is BEN
Gifted in the early spring"
An. experienced farmer in another
section says: Farmers here are in the
habit Of feeding off their moving lands
in the fall. but have no doubt the crop
Of grass would be better, the next sea-
son, not to feed them. Some think the
injury not so great as the value of the
feed of the after-growth." II have had
cons .derable experience in both Ways.' u