Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-12-13
DRIED UP PASTURES.
WHAT TO DO AFTER LONG AND Sc
WE'RE DROUGHT.
Grass Lands May BE Benefited by
Available Nitrogen-HOw to Handle
Pasture That Cannot BE Cultivated
Economical Fertilizers.

Grass Lands May BE Benefited by
Available Nitroeen-HOw to Handle
Pasture That Cannot BE Cultivated
Economical Fertilizers.
Deficient moisture in many eastern
sections has resulted in destroying or
injuring some Of the tender and better
grasses, and in lieu of them weeds
which are able to thrive where there is
a minimum of moisture have in part
taken their places, says Professor Rob
erts Of Cornell in The American Agri-
culturist. How may these pastures
and meadows be restored cheaply and
most effectively? AS soon as fairly
cOpious rains descend the pastures
which have not been too much injured
might be sowed with the following
mixture per acre: Two pounds timothy,
one pound orchard grass, one pound
meadow fescue Festuca elatior) and
one pound redtop. 1t would not be
economy to SOW more seed on pastures
which are already moderately well
covered with plants. Then harrow
thoroughly-that is, two or three times
with a spike toothed implement hav-
ing small sharp teeth. The teeth of
the old harrow should be drawn out
and made thin for half of their length
and sharp, so that they will enter the
ground and break some of the old
grass roots that new ones may be
formed and that the seed may receive
suitable covering. Then roll to press
the dirt on the seed and the exposed
roots. At the same time the seeds are
sowed give the land a dressing of pot
ash and nitrogen, say so pounds of mu-
riate of potash and so pounds of nj
trate of soda as starter Double this
IL your experience with commercial
fertilizers leads to the belief that a
more liberal application would be more
profitable.
Grass lands are usually greatly bene-
flied by available nitrogen, especially
when applied in the spring. But this
plant food is so expensive that we hes
itate to recommend liberal applications
of it to pasture lands where there is so
little income per acre. Early next
spring sow two pounds of alsike and
one pound of white clover seed per
acre and roll. Sell few of the poorer
cows, those which do not pay for their
keep, and thus relieve the pastures I'M
til they can recover. If it appears best
not to borrow money with which to
purchase fertilizers, then try to find
during fall and early winter some farm
manures. Any kind will do provided
it can be distributed evenly. Scrape
over the old barnyard, dig the rich
earth out from under the stables, hunt
up the bed of muck and woods mold
and spread them.
Strawy manureS, straw and all kinds
of refuse spread thinly at almost any
time of the year will be beneficial.
Purchase barrel of stone lime, water
slake 1t and apply to one-fourth of an
acre after the fall seeding and note
results. If the pasture Is very poor
and fairly level and free from stone,
plow and plant part to corn and
part to oats. Possibly there may be
time to plow and SOW to rye this fall.
Use part of the rye for early soiling,
plow up a part and SOW to oats, plow
under q portion of the rye or the rye
stubbles and plant to corn. From two
to ten times as much roughage should
be secured as would be if the pastures
were graZed.
Many of the pastures are so rough
and stony that they cannot even be
narrowed and rolled to advantage. In
all such cases about all that can be
done proftably Is to SOW seeds as al
ready described and leave the fall and
spring rains to beat them into the
ground, hoping thereby to secure ger
mination, which may be greatly assist
ed by spreading any refuse material
thinly after the seeds are sowed. In
addition in some cases the brambles,
brush and coarse weeds may be cut
and used to shade and protect the
young plants in the poorer portions un-
til they get foothold. But l fear most
farmers will not be willing to put any
labor or eXpend any money on these
rough places, not having faith that
their efforts will be rewarded. Yet l
have unbounded faith, founded on ex-
perience, that little timely attention
and little grass seed. both judiciously
expended, will greatly change for the
better those pastures which are now
making q heroic struggle for existence,
but which unaided must in the end
yield to the law of the survival of the
hardest.