Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-11-17

+. II. II. writes: Please state the ad,
vantages and disadvantages of pasturing
the second growth of hay land. When
cows running in old pastures are chang
ed to fresh, young pasture, the milk pail
answers the question beyond doubt
as to the advantages of pasturing. BY
not paSturing and leaving the second
growth to wither and dry up, to what
extent as a fertilizer does it benefit the
hay crop the following year, and would
the benefit more than offset the advan-
tage derived by pasturing? Where the
ground is good and the growth heavy,
so il mats down, would il not be an IN
jury in preventing the young grass from
getting through early in the spring? |
frequently hear farmers say that they
never pasture meadows at all, and think
it an injury TO do so. What are your
views?
The advantages are well stated-an in
creased flow of milk and the prevention
of mat cover which harbors mice and
smOthers out the grass. do not know
of any others. The disadvantages are
the wasting of the feed by the tramping
and soiling of the cattle, the barring OF
the crowns of the grass to the severe
freezing, soaking storms of winter; the
cutting up and pack ng of the soil, which
is usually wet in the fall, SO that il hard
ems and bakeS the following summer, by
the feet of the stock; the robbing of the
soil of its natural blanket, which saves
plant food and finally makes that with
out which soil is valueless, humus. The
results of all these compel the owner to
replough and reseed the field, which
should be growing better each year.
The man who practices fall pasturing
is not looking ahead, but is considering
the needs of to-day. In this enlighten-
ed age, when silage is so well under
stood, no man is justified in letting
stock run where change will show in
the milk pail. For profit cows must al
ways have enough, and should not de-
pend on pasturage alone in the fall.
The second growth looks tempting and
large, but you have noticed it did not
last long-so that the benefits were
small. The cows got a good bite for a
few days and ''gnawed the ground" the
rest of the time. There are very few
fields which are in grass that will have
growth large enough to injure it, and
this can be prevented by clipping the
growth high in September. This clip
ping makes an increased root growth
and better top. If one must have the
feed he would better cut and feed in the
stable TO prevent waste, and to let new
growth start for cover. This does away
with the first three disadvantages.
The second growth is valuable for a
aacnrAip0 m ifS amnunt hut
is still more valuable for its effect on the
soil. Nature is always providing humus.
by covering with leaves, dead grass or
any decaying vegetation. A soil desti-
tute of humus is barren, or nearly so.
1t must be provided or failure is certain.
Do not remove it for the sake of few
extra pals of costly milk.
Thousands of dollars are paid in this
section for grass seed which never makes
a meadow. The land is too poor in
humus and mechanical condition to
carry it through the first year. All sorts
of expedients are resorted to to get
''catch." The new meadow rarely gives
more than a half crop the first year after
seeding, and one who Spoils meadow
for few cents worth of fall grass pays
dollars for new one. BY allowing the
second growth to remain Clipped if too
heavy, and by giving slight top dress
ing in winter, meadow will gain in
yield and "hold'' for long time.-C. +.
Chapman in Tribune Farmer.