The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-02-22

1850
also destroy the living moths.
TREATMENT OF GRASS LAND.
Presence Of Noxious Weeds Does
Much TO Cut Down the Value OF
Grass Lands.
(By G. S. MTLLER.)
The treatment of grass land in this
country caves much to be desired. It
would appear as if many farmers were
satisfied to take any natural vegeta-
tation as good enough for grazing pur-
poses. Every one knows that the
feeding power Of different fields va
ries considerably. We have the hill
side, where as many as thirty acres
would be required to keep a beast
alive, and we have the rich land that
can fatten a bullock and a sheep to the
acre. There is ar inclination to sub
NIT to this as inevitable in the nature
of things. Although there are very
definite limitations to possibilities Of
~provement of grass land it could easily
be made capable of supporting more
grazing stock, or of yielding heavier
crops Of hay than it does at present.
The first condition of improvement
Of much Of our grass land is drainage;
but this is rather a matter of Ian
Improvement than a farming proper,
and it should be treated of in its
TOper place. Next, Tie prev iCIiCe
of weeds is a serious matter, and is
well within the power Of the armer
Some of these weeds furnish an indi-
cation of the requirements of the land.
The special weeds OF wet land are
known to most.
The weeds of poor gras land in
dude "a eye daisy, mouse ear chick
weed, speedwell, eyebright and others.
Most of these will disappear when the
land Is we'll 1nenured, the improved
grass checking them out. The weeds
Of good land must be treated In a
different way. Some are 50 rOuble-
some tina the only way, when they
have been allowed to get too far
ahead, is to break up the pasture.
| This always should be avoided when
there is any other chance of success,
as a good pasture takes years to re-
establish after breaking it up. The
most difficult of this class to eradicate
are the creeping buttercup and silver
weed. These have wonderful vitality
and no live stock will eat them. Many
weeds can be gotten rid Of by pre-
vention of seeding. The various UNI
eliferea, such IS wild carrot. cow
parsnip, hemlock. etc. also ragweed
and thistles may be kept down by
moving in due time. Docks are OF a
tougher nature, but they may De usu-
ally pulled up by root when the
ground is soft after rain. Docks pro-
duce a wonderful quantity Of seed, and
trouble in their eradication is Well
repaid.
Some plants that become positive
pests on pasture land cannot grow
on meadows. These include the COM
mon daisy hawkseed. There are two
parasitic weeds Of grass land; broom
rape lives partly on the roots OF Glow
er. and yellow rattle on a roots.
These are not SO troublesome on well
drained land as where there Is TOO
much moisture. A few plants. com
monty regarded as weeds, may be an
advantage to grass lands, when they
are there in moderation.
The common dandelion, plantain
! and the various wild watches are
| among these. Wild garlic is a most
objectionable weed where dairy cattle
| are fed, as 1T destroys the flavor or the
milk, but it is beneficial in moderation
on f%attening land. IN poor dry land.
%atuaral unsuited to the growth OF
grass. NARROW and sleeps parsley may
he encouraged as both make good
sheen feed, and their deep roots max
them more or less Independent OF sur
! face moisture. Moss is a very com
mon pest of grass land in districts
where the atmosphere is damp. II
depends more on the state OF the ali
| than of the land.
We frequently hear the explanation
hat it shows want of drainage. but
this could not be the case, as moss
| flourishes on dry banks as well as
anywhere ele. Neither Is it u TO
poverty of land, for it is often found
on the best of land. The only way GO
deal with moss is to commence VIII
a thorough narrowing SO as to dls-
lodge the moss. It is then collected
and destroyed. This is done IN the
autumn and should be followed with
a good dressing Of lime and salt com
post or farmyard manure.