Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1875 — Fall Treatment of Grass Lands. [ARTICLE]

Fall Treatment of Grass Lands.

Out of the large number of responses received to our list of questions proposed last spring, chiefly in reference to grasses and their management, nine-tenths stated that they pastured in the fall, to a greater or less extent. Another significant fact in this connection is that nine-tenths of these nine-tenths wdio practice fall pasturing deprecate the practice, believing it to be injurious. Had we asked one other question : “Do you top-dress your meadows either in fall or spring?” we have nodoubt that nine-tenths w v ould have replied in the negative. The responses received correspond with our observations on these mat ters, and we cannot be far out of the w r ay in our conclusions in regard to top-dress-ing. The prevailing practice, then, is to pasture meadow’s in the fall and never topdress with any material whatever. Grass is usually cut at or near the period of its maturity. The energies ofthe plant have been concentrated and expended in the effort of reproduction, and a state of exhaustion necessarily follows—a season of rest, so to speak—during which the plant recuperates its exhausted energies, and stores up in its roots the material tor future growth. The foliage put forth by the first feeble efforts of the plant after it is cut plays an important part in this work of recuperation, and if it is cropped close and late, can anyone doubt that proportionate injury to next year’s crop must result? Before the mowing the roots were shaded and the ground kept moist and in good growing condition. All this is changed by the removal ofthe crop. The protecting shade is gone, the hot rays of the July and August suns are let in, drinking up the moisture, parching the ground, drying out and killing the roots, which are now in no condition to resist such withering effects. Under such circumstances, can anyone doiibt the beneficial effects of a liberal top-dressing of some stimulating fertilizer, that will start the plants into immediate action, causing them to throw out a growth to take the place of the one removed? Instead of this, however, no fertilizer is applied, and stock is turned in to eat off the protection which the plants unaided would supply. If this cropping is continued late, as it generally is, the field is left bare, with exposed roots, when w inter sets in, and the following spring the owmer wonders why his grass has frozen out so badly. On wet

meadows the tramping of stock has a most injurious effect, and they always select the best of the grass, leaving the worthless wild species to flourish and obtain the mastery. It must be remembered that the whole process of raising* hay is an unnatural one. When nature manages a grass crop, without interference, reseeding goes on every year and young, fresh, vigorous plants are coming forward constantly to replace those that have fulfilled their mission. There is a constant growth, shading the ground and protecting the roots from summer’s drought, and, falling down in the fall, furnishes a protecting blanket during the winter and a rich top-dressing in the spring. We cannot hope to work successfully against nature, in any undertaking, and" hence the man whenever returns to his grass lands an equivalent for what is removed, and who annually crops his meadows early and late, finds them “run out” in a short time, and he is compelled to renew them, at the expense of very much more time and labofthan would be necessary to preserve them. The practice of one of the successful farmers of this country will commend itself to everyone.

Heton-clresses every year, liberally, and then feeds in the/fali. according to circumstaiMies—if the aftermath flight he does not turn in at all, if very lie.r.y and likely to impede the growth ' f the succeeding crop he pastures ittoiG ing extent.- In regard to the material to be used in top-dressing, more will be said at another time. "Any fine fertilizer-barn-yard or road scrapings, lime, ashes, compost, plaster, etc.—which you have on hand, or can be obtained readily, should be applied without hesitation or unnecessary delay.— Ohio Farmer.