GRAZING LANDS. 



BY H. A, DAXIELS, ESQ., MILFORD. 



To the mind of the careful observer, the continuous pro- 

 cess of deterioration, that is going on with pasture lands 

 in New Euglaud, must be a source of regret and anxietj. 

 The question is often asked, and reiterated, "How shall we 

 reclaim our worn out pastures ?" It is often answered, 

 that the best way on a farm is, to have a rotation and 

 bring the grazing lands under the plow once in six or seven 

 years, substituting, during the process, mowing fields that 

 have become reduced by cropping; thus in turn mowing 

 and pasturing all the lands of the farm, except those in 

 forest. This plan may be practicable for those owning 

 farms of moderate size, and when all the cleared lands lie 

 contiguous to buildings j but to the great majority of farmers 

 in New England, such a plan is not feasible, for the reason 

 that the more hilly and remote portions of the farm are 

 devoted to this purpose, and the exceptions are almost 

 always found to arise from the fact that some lands near 

 the buildings are so rocky that they cannot be plowed and 

 cultivated to any advantage. 



Did the deterioration of our pastures consist simply in 

 the^lccrease in yield of herbage, the evil would not be so 

 serious ; but to those who have looked upon the rich grazing 

 fields of western New York, and partaken of the products 

 of the dairy, it is obvious that the depreciation in quality 

 of the grasses is fully as great. 



How then shall the great body of the grazing lands bo 

 renoYatcd ; lying as they do upon thousands of hill-sides 

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