Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-06-21
FARM and HOUSEHOLD.
Restore THE PASTURE.

1t is not probable fhat Eastern
pastures can be restored to their
original productiyeness, for the ex
pense would be far greater than
the land would be worth but it is
no. too late. nor would the eX-
nense be too great, to improve their
nresent condition. Ii portion of
the nastnre be covered with young
forest trees. let them grow, and
leave the land alone. The time is
not far distant when an acre OF
timber land will be among the most
valuable on he farm. If much of
the pasture be thickly covered
with brush and bners, it would not
be advisable to disturb it, unless
the soil is naturally fertile, and eau
be plowed and cultivated without
the Interference of too many rocks
and stones. IL will do but very
little good to simply cut the bushes
once IN three or four years, or
every year, after they have become
firmly established, although such
cuttings will check their spreading
aud give a more presentable ap-
pearanee to the farm. But very
little feed would grow where brush,
briers and stones cover the ground.
Where bushes spring up here
and there over the pasture, cut and
bum them, and pillow out the roots.
The next year, or the same if pos
sible, re-plow and harrow WE'LL
BY continuing this course for two
years in succession, and doing the
work in a thorough manner, there
Will be no more bushes to cut,
and the land Will be in a
condition where grass can grow
The pasture, with neither trees nor
bushes grown, if 1t have firm
sod, requires no blowing. Such
land never gets swsrd- bound, and
it seldom improves by blowing and
re.seeding. Occasionally give it a
coating of manure, or a dressing Of
some good fertilizer.
But where the pasture has "run
out" or produces only a scant
growth of feed, and yet has sui
tcient depth Of soil, plow up one
or two acres a year, as opportunity
occurs. If this plowlng is done IN
the spring. plow again in the fall.
Put no crop on it, but simply
cultivate the land. Do this as
often as possible, and after two
years Of such treatment, seed down
to grass, and at the same time APP
ply a good coat Of manure or some
other fertilizer. This will give the
grass good start, and help to
form a more compact sod. Con
Time this process with all similar
portions of pasture land until all
has been reclaimed. The same
treatment with run down moving
land will be attended with salts
factory results. But some may
ask, why not grow some crop upon
this land, while it is being cult
waited This would require fencing,
and if there is no crop, the plOw-
ing and cnltivating can be done
when other work is not pressing
A crop wOull also interfere with
the frequent blowing necessary to
bring the land into proper con-
ditiOn for seeding down, and more
than all, would rob the soil of the
plant-fOOd which the grass so much
needs. Hilly land, which might
wash, may be treated with a dress
ing of manure or ashes. The latter
often gives a more compact sod,
and shows good effects for years.
One great benefit to be derived
by this treatment of pasture land
is, that when seeded down, the
grass will be much sweeter and
more nutritious. Cattle, horses or
sheep viii iced upon newly-seeded
land IN preference to any other,
while for milch COWS there is moth
ing better. But such lands should
not be ted too closely In the fall,
especially when the cattle are taken
from them Dlghtly, as is generally
the case with COWS. Give the grass
a chance to get start, so that the
roots will be the better protected
against the freezing and thawing
of winter.-Americdn AgricWItUrist.