Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-09-25
IMP R0VIN G THE
Pasture
When and How This Can Be
Done for the Best
Results.
Use Barnyard Manure to Good
Advantage.
High Grade PaGturage Provides More
Feeding Capacity and Bigger
Dividends in Milk Yields.

When farm work slackens in the
Fall after the corn has been husked
and the crops harvested, the farmer
will do well to apply lime to the
pasture. The pasture problem is be-
coming more acute everywhere eacn
year The good palatable grasses are
disappearing largely because the soil
has become sour, and weeds, tough
inferior grasses, and in many cases,
moss, are taking their place. Many
pastures will not i&aintain One-halr
as many animals as they did a few
years ago. Observation shows that
it requires more acres to maintain
COW nowadays, than it did years ago
when more careful attention was
given to the quality of pastWage.
Pastures seemed to be considered
sort of Sod given asset to the farm
They are much neglected in spite of
the fact that grasses and cl0ver5
respond well to good treatment
especially to lime. One way or an
other pastures cost the farmer be-
cause upkeep of fences is necessary
and interest on investment is COntin-
uous. They will not pay dividends
without care.
There are three or four things nee
essary in pasture Improvement. First
in Importance, on most of the areas,
is an application of lime. Fortuna, -ly
for the farmer, lime may be applied 10
the pasture at any time in the year
There is no best time. The point is
to get it on the land The most con-
venient time Is undoubtedly in Fall
when farm work has eased up. At
this time lime may be carried and
spread with little difficulty, especially
the hydrated lime which comes in
bags and needs no shaking. Generally
roads are also good in the Fall for
hauling. A ton of lime to the acre is
none too much. because in most cases
the soil has become very sour during
a period of many years Of heavy
grazing. and no treatment other than
the drOpngS of the animals which are
never sufficient in themselves. Very
finely pulveriEed lime is especially
valuable because it IS so readily sol
ublo and begins to correct acidity as
s.cn as it is applied. If applied In
the Fall, its action by Spring will have
been sufficient to create favorable
conditions for the growth Of the old
plants OF for the growth of new plants
aprin@tn& from seed.
There must be sufficient plant food
IN tn" soil. To supply il, either barn
yard manure or commercial fertilizers
nl%y be used. 1t is true that where
manure is used ii will keep the ami
mails away for a time, but that is an
advantage in one way at least, in thar
il VIII give the grass an opportunity
70 make Il start
Ii will be beneficial to work up the
sol: with a Sharp-tOothed harrow to
mix the applied material and prepare
a better soil bed for the grass seed
that should he applied. Spring seeG-
inc is usually best, Where the land is
too steep to haiiu%, fhe seed ah0un.
be applied when TIE soil is honey
conhed hy frost. II is important tina,
strong, vital seeds free of Impurities
arr used. and they should be of kind,
which will guarantee succession Of
rostula,a Fifteen ia twenty pounds is
generous aDnlicaffon. FoY. most cor
djtions from Maine TO virginia, where
lime has been used the following mix
ture will prove satisfactory:
Timothy. 10 DOunGs. Kentucky hlue