Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-09-17
THAT FIELD OF GRASS ON CHEM
iCAlS

We referred last autumn to an ex
pertinent under way on the farm O
the agricultural editor of the Farmer
in the growing of grass with chemical
manures. We had at different times
tried the growing of grass from the
use of the ordinary commercial super.
phosphates, but on the whole with
indifferent success and certainly gain
ing no bus ne $ encouragement from
the experiments. Last fall we had a
small tract of two and half acres
that had become seriously reduced in
its hay production by the drought OF
two years standing and could not
again become profitable without be-
ing plowed and re-seeded. The barn
manures would all be needed on an
other part of the farm. In all these
years on the farm, having learned
something in the use of chemicals for
manure, it was decided to try the ex-
pertinent of growing grass with chemi-
cal manures.
The land was not ideal land for the
purpose but it was the field that must
be plowed. Nor was there time to
rot down the sward and carry out
ideal methods. The land was plowed
about the middle of August seven in
ches deep, following at once by har-
rowing down thoroughly with a disc
and a smoothing harrow. No pains
was spared in this work. The fol-
lowing material was then applied to
the field: Muriate of potash, 800
pounds, SIC; dissolved boneblack, 1000
pounds, s.; nitrate of soda, 2S0 pounds,
S5.SS.
The application was thoroughly
mixed with the surface soil. Ten
quarts of Timothy seed and eight of
cleaned redtop, each by measure, was
then sowed to the acre, narrowed in
with a smoothing harrow, and the
ground rolled. Though the autumn
was too dry for strong growth, yet
a thick stand of grass was made and got
fairly rooted before winter. In the
spring, after the grass was well start
ed, the tenth of May, a farther ap-
plication of nitrate of soda, 700 pounds,
$l4. 10, was applied to the field as a top
dressing.
The grass made a strong and rapid
growth and gave evidence on every
square rod there was plenty of plant
food within its reach, and of the right
kind. When the field was cut, the
grass was found thick and tall, and
lodged in spots throughout. We had
no means of weighing the loads from
the field, but good judges estimated
the crop at three tons to the acre.
1t being free from clover the quantity
was not likely to be overestimated.
Certainly we proved that a bountiful
crop of grass can be grown from manur-
ing with chemicals.
Did it pay? Let US see. The chemi-
Gals applied cost SASS. There was
cut from the field ~ tons of hay,
worth in the barn $40 a ton, making
for the crop SIS. The land untouched
would have produced two tons of in
ferior hay, worth Sl5. Deducting this
from the value of the crop harvested
leaves a gain from the manures applied
of $50. Further than the crop now in
store there will be good second crop
from the same ground this year, while
further still everyone will see that the
land at the opening of the next spring
will be in much improved condition for
business from what it was at the start
of the experiment. From a business
view it must therefore be looked upon
as better way of putting that much
hay into the barn than to 60 out and
purchase it.
But this is not the end of it. Next
spring, about the time the grass starts
to grow, the field will be top dressed
with 300 pounds nitrate of soda and 100
each of muriate of potash and dissolved
bone to the acre. Then we will see
what it will do another year. Farmers
must not expect to harvest bountiful
crops from their lands without its cost
ing something.-MaineF Farmer.