The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-08-17
Renovation of Pastures.

Pastures are 80 convenient they cannot
be altogether dispensed with even in
favor of soiling crops, and upon the
highest priced land. The finest pastures
are to be found in England and Ireland,
and some of them return a fair interest
on value Of $1,000 FER acre. This is
far in advance of the value of any farm
land in America, but it is only reached
by the employment of capital and labor
skillfully applied, which, were the same
used here, would give our Is is an equal
value. An English pastrr 8 laid down
with the greatest care an egardless of
any proper expense. The land is ma
nured and weeded for three crops preced.
ing; it is then manured and summer fal.
lowed, and the land is brought into the
finest tilth. 1t is then seeded with va
riety of grasses and forage plants far
more literally than is ever thought of by
an American farmer; 10 or IL bushels in
all of 8 to ~ kinds of grasses and cloyers
being used per acre. The seed is COW
cred by l.arrowing. This being an espe.
cisl point, it is worthy of particular
notice by the American farmers who
rarely prsctice 1t. The pastures are kept
clean, never eaten down too closely and
are top dressed at times with artificial
fertilizers in the most liberal manner, the
stock being kept off from them for a few
weeks until the grass is washed clean, by
the rains, and has recovered its growth.
By such treatment, with new seed, and a
narrowing to cover it, and ample manur.
ing, these pastures remain profitable for
centuries, some of them having been in
use for 800 years without ever being
broken up by the plow. If American
farmers would have the most profitable
pastures they must do likewise. But the
beginning of "a new way is the difficult
point. One does not know sometimes
where to begin and how to 60 on. Some.
times it is best to begin as mentioned
above, and sometimesa beginning can be
made at once without breaking up the
land. To get rid of the weeds is the, most
particular point. This may be done now
by cutting them with mower snd rak-
ing them off and burning them. Then
heavy, sharp harrow may be run over
the field and a fresh seeding given. This
may be done on one part at time, the
stock being kept off by portable fence
until the new growth is ready. A top
dressing of wood ashes, or mixture Of
potash, salts and lime, with fine bone
dust or superphosphate should be given,
and this treatment repeated as often as
may be required. But the chief point to
be remembered in caring for pasture is,
that it should never be eaten down to the
roots, nor should the droppings of the
stock be left to accumulate in spots and
kill out the grass. If the land is ever
bare of grass the sums heat will kill the
roots, and this is the most probable dan
ger to be spprehended. 1t will be very
clear to q thoughtful farmer that pas
ture is not to be carelessly prepared
hurriedly seeded; wastefully used and
then left to take care of itself. Every
one Of these points is to be assiduously
avoided and the very opposite treatment
is to be given. if the full value Of pas
ture is expected to be realized.
The pasture is the heart Of dairy
farm. 1t is the point around which all
the work revolves. One may introduce
soiling and green feeding crops, covered
yards and dark barns, and stables for
feeding; but the pasture is the natural
and most healthfnl method of feeding for
COWS, they are most contented in it, they
are more free from the common diseases
in the pure air and sunlight, and the
milk will be purer and better than from
COWS confined in yards and stables. Dis
eases of the worst character are becoming
frequent in dairy herds, and danger to
the public health from them is justly
apprehended. 1t may be that these dis
cases have been encouraged to .2'me ex.
tent by the too artificial life forced upon
the COWS, and that the use of pastures of
| the best kind must be made rule, and
the prevailing tendency to make the COW
/ mere machine for the manufacture OF
milk and butter, be restricted out of re-
gard to the purify Of these products
Practical Farmer.