Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-01-08

is skilfuI, VIII be the various by
products of other fields, as the stub
bles in the fall, the fallows in the
| spring, and in the summer those fields
which are resting between the plowed
| crops.
Any field which has gone through
several years of rotation may be very
proftably rested for year or two, and
this may be done by making it a range
for a flock. 1t was an ancient prac
tice to employ a seventh-year fallow
in which the land was not put under
culture, and the experience of all the
ages since has fully proved the
economy Of this rest. If this is done
and the farm stock is increased by a
suHcient flock of sheep, by so much
the resources of the farm are extend
ed, and one otherwise unproductive
year is added to the profitable fields.
We have on this side of the world a
strong prejudice against permanent
pastures. 1t is thought to be impos-
sible, with our dry climate, notwith-
standing our excess of rainfall above
that of European countries in which
the flock fsheep is an Indispensable
part of the live stock, to maintain a
permanent pasture. Doubtless this is
true, hut it is SO for the reason that it
is rare that any field is ever put under
sufficient culture or is ever fertilized
or so literally seeded as to produce
profitable grass pasture for more than
one year, the second years being de-
voted to sort of range only, in which
with other feeding-the land may
rest, and by some partial fallow plow-
ing possibly be brought once more I'M
der the usual rotation. This provides
means for the profitable feeding of
some sheep every year as part of the
rotation, and all the more profitable if
the land is plowed and sown with rape.
which by good management may be
made fully to feed to 10 sheep per
acre the whole summer. There is no
other crop so suitable as this. as the
cost of the seed is only 20 cents an
acre, and the preparation of the land
for it is practically the same that it
fallowed; while the advantage
gained even by the working of the
land alone is worth all the cost of it.
And this use of the field matches so
well with the permanent pasture to be
used at suitable intervals during the
season that the two go together with
perfect propriety.
A permanent pasture is not a field
set in grass and then simply left t it.
self for its own maintenance. The con
lition of such a field in two or three
years would be disgusting, through
he mere collection of blotches of
manure left all over it, unless it were |
occupied only by sheep, and even !
then the fouled spots would be avoid !
ed. Inc fact is that no permanent !
pasture for sheep is possible except !
under due management, these animals
eating cleanly as they go, and drop !
ping the manure in such scattered way |
rs to help the grass and not smother .
Or kill it. BY little fresh seeding /
and touch with a harrow, a perma-
1ent sheep pasture may be kept in the
very best condition and so become the
key to the most profitable feeding of a
lock during the necessary intervals
between other feeding. But it will re-
luire liberal seeding, and this rein
orced annually, together with a sharp
narrowing at the same time to freshen
he surface.