Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-12-27
AMONG THE FARMERS.
sPEED THE PLow."

"sPEED THE PLow."
Correspondence on practical agricultural topic
is solicited. Address sn communications In
HAMMOND, ksricultprsi Editor Oxford Dem
ocrst. Paris. Ne.
How I Grow Grass.
ADDRESS BY VICE PRESIDENT L. E. NC
| INTIRE AT DAIRY CONFERENCE.
In the first place, / want to tell you a
little something of the land try to grow
grass ON. l would like to explain to
you as far as possible, the nature of the
soil, its location to the frost line, and
other conditions / have to consider in
connection with my other farm work.
am a strong believer in crop rotation,
as far as practicable, but have one sec
ton that is what is called brook intervsle.
This piece of land grew grass for thirty
five years before it was plowed or fertil-
lied in any way. This section is below
the frost line, and one year with another
is not safe place TO plant corn or pota-
toes. We will call this section number
one. From this land we come to a ridge
of land sloping gradually to the south.
This soil is composed of gravelly loan
and is natural corn land. We will call
this ridge section number two, or home
farm. In connection with this, my
home farm, | have twenty acres more OF
good land, we'll adapted for growing
grass, grain or potatoes, but with this
disadvantage, il is one mile from home
aud all up hill, so you can readily see
that it is not profitable to haul barn-yard
dressing up this hill. This last section
is number three.
These three sections comprise the
farm have had to contend with for
number of years. always liked TO see
good piece of grass growing; in fact, |
like to see any good crop or well titled
field; it seems to bring US nearer in
touch with nature than most any other
occupation.
However, | think il was some hungry
Holstein cattle that stimulated me more
than anything else to grow grass for
hay, in order to feed them through our
long cold winters, and have them come
out in good condition in the spring.
started to increase my hay crop in the
section We called the hill farm, or num-
Der three, by the use of ashes. had no
trouble to grow a good crop of grass for
hay, but the ashes were heavy and the
expense of hauling ten miles was great,
SO began TO investigate and experiment
with chemicals, and soon found | could
haul more value with pair of horses in
one load of chemicals than five or six OF
ashes. Consequently, i dropped out the
ashes, and for seven years have been
using chemicals.
Now in regard to treating this land for
a crop of grass. have told you this
land was adapted for growing grass,
grain or potatoes, but as l am breeder
of HOlstein cattle and not potato grow
er, grow grain and grass to use at
home on the farm. And | would like 10
state right here that years ago | learned
that in order to live from farm, one
must produce something TO turn into
money, for money we must have TO pay
the bills. The nearer finished product
we can sell from the farm, the greater
the profit.
I break up section Of this land in
the fall, removing all the loose stones.
In the spring thoroughly pulverize it,
using about five hundred pounds OF
chemicals 10 the acre, and SOW IL TO oats.
After the oats are off in the fall, plnw
again. In the spring | pulverize the
piece until it is like garden spot, this
time using from eight 10 ten hundred
pounds of chemicals To the acre, sowing
oats and grass seed. AS | am great
believer in clover, SOW qnte percent
of clover seed, and have never failed to
get good stand of clover. By using
three hundred pounds of chemicals to
the acre, the second spring, l get as
much hay the second year as the first.
Now in regard to my home farm, sec
ton number two, is where | raise my
corn and practice four-year rotation;
corn, oats and grass. The manner in
which this land is treated is this: The
first year, for corn, break up section
| in the fail, turning under fair amount
of barn-ysrd dressing. In the spring l
go over this section with another light
coat of dressing, and thoroughly pull
verize this land until am ready to plant
corn. using a small amount of fertilizer,
drilled in at time of planting. l want
to im press on your minds that this field
of corn has thorough cultivation. After
the CORE is taken of in the fall, plow
this land aud let it lie until spring, then
| it is pulverized and sowed to oats and
grass seed, and about five hundred
pounds of chemicals used TO the acre.
From land treated in this way, / do not
have any trouble to get two crops of
hay the first year, and with three hun
dred pounds of chemicals used as a top
dressing, the second spring, l get two
crops the second year.
The section called number one, or the
iutervale, is kept in grass practically all
the time by top-dressing with bsrn-yard
manure or chemicals. IL any part of
this section is winter killed or foul grass
works iu, | plow it up thoroughly, pull
vsrize and seed in the fall, using chemi-
calls with only small amount OF nitrate
of soda. At this time l use only red-top
and timothy for seed, and plan to get
the work done by the last week in Au-
gust. Usually / SOW some clover seed
the following spring, about the time the
snow goes of. have had to learn that
the grass plant is very small, wee
plant, aud must have perfect seed oed
10 do its best. have also learned that
a thick even stand, with the chemicals
TO give il the quick start, practically in
sures the crop against drouth.
In connection with my grass crop, L
plan to SOW ten or twelve acres OF oats,
then IL any of my grass land winter kills,
or through any other cause l have a
shortage of hay, l cut these oats and
make them into hay; other years l lot
them ripen for grain.
In conclusion, would add that in
order to grow good crop of grass, or,
in fact, to grow good crop of any kind,
| have learned this lesson: Do the,
right thing at the right time, and in the
right place; and do 1t thoroughly.
Niles Blanchard OF Madison sold to
Frank Thompson Of Skowhegan thirteen
lambs that averaged to weigh over one