The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1890-10-17
FARM AND HOME.
Renewing Worn Out Grass Lands.

Renewing Worn Out Grass Lands.
| One OF our subscribers asks US how 10 the
best way to renew the grass field and make II
productive again.
No answer can be given that will apply to
all circumstances. Each farmer must consider
his circumstance carefully and adopt such
course as bis best Judgment decides as most
prudent under the circumstances.
There Is no question whatever that the
best way In many cases. perhaps we should
say In large majority Of cases, would be to
break up the sward In spring and plant one
or two years with pototoes. corn, cabbages or
other hoed crops, seeding down In August or
| September the second year. This method is
to be commended where the farmer has a
ready market for the products of bis crops
and feels sure that he can grow them at a
profit; the repeated poughing and cultivating
demanded by two years tlllage, II done thor
ougy will kill out many Of the most trouble
some weeds, such as sorrel, white-weed, dock
and thistles and the soil will be reduced to a
fine state of filth well suited to secure good
catch of grass.
spread broadcast upon the land all the barn
yard manure that can easily be obtained, say
five to ten cords per acre ,at the time of plant.
ing the hoed crops; or II enough manure can
not be conveniently obtained 1t may be sup.
plemented by the use of such standard fertil.
izers as sulphate Of potash, acid phosphate or
ground bone and wood ashes, using 500
pounds of each per acre.
1t Is doubtful whether the use Of nitrogen.
Gus fertilizers, for cheap farm crops can be
advised, except In the case of barn yard ma.
nure or cotton seed meal; their use will pay
for expensive crops, but for such crops as
corn and POTATOES, we believe the farmer will
have to produce his own nitrogen by plough
Ing crop of clover or cOw-peas and apply
some kind OF fertilizer containing potash and |
phospboric acid, II his soil requires 1t, which |
can only be ascertained by experiment with |
the crops themselves.
The risk of injury to the potato crop by
bugs and rot and drouth is considerable, and
the price OF both potatoes and corn Is so low
that the farmer must figure closely and use
his best skill In growing these crops or there
will be no margin of profit In growing them.
Still we believe that with good land and
good management both corn and potatoes
may still be grown with profit, and where
there IL market for them and plenty of ma.
nure can be had for growing them, cabbages
also are an excellent crop for breaking up
old sward land.
A less thorough preparation of the land but
one, which, IN many cases is preferred, Is the
simple ploughing under of the sward, spread
ing the manure, narrowing and seeding at
once.
The reasons why this method Is sometimes
prefe red are, first there are some lands too
wet for corn. potatoes, or cabbage, which
will still produce heavy growth of grass
for few years If ploughed, manfred and
seeded at this time of year; 1t Is about all
you can do with wet land except you can
drain it and make good dry land of it, which
Is. OF course, far better.
Then second, there are many people who
want to grow all the grass they can for their
stock, and who do not want 10 be bothered
with corn or potatoes, and prefer for this rea-
son to seed their land down as quickly as
possible and take as little risk as possible
with uncertain crops. such persons will
plough under their stubble now and turning
IT as Nat as possible, harrow in good dress
Ing OF manure or manufactured fertilizer, and
seed down directly using care to roll and
smooth off the land so that there will be no
distractions to the free passage of the now
Ing machine. horse rake or tedder.-[ Mas
sachusetts Ploughman. .