320 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



these lands might he, perhaps, attended by greater profits than 

 stocking all of them permanently to pasture. It must be borne 

 in mind, however, that in pursuing this system, rest, at least, 

 during one year in five, is considered important, and that more 

 labor is required, and a greater outlay in manure. But we 

 must be guided in our management by the surrounding 

 circumstances. 



In all cases appertaining to seeding lands for pasturage, we 

 should determine, as far as possible, for what use they are more 

 particularly desired, — for fattening or for dairy purposes ; 

 because experience and observation have taught that the same 

 pastures or variety of grasses do not produce meat and milk 

 with equal facility. 



The practice adopted by many farmers of mowing lands for 

 the hay-crop, during two or three years immediately subsequent 

 to stocking with grass, but intended ultimately for pasturing, is, 

 in my judgment, highly prejudicial, and should be abandoned, 

 devoting them from the first strictly for grazing. 



Our newly-seeded grounds for pasturage should be cautiously 

 fed, always endeavoring to leave some grass for seed, and a suf- 

 ficient growth near the surface for the protection of the roots 

 during seasons of drought, and from the destructive frosts of 

 winter. Indeed, who does not know that a pasture, stripped of 

 all its vegetation, and fed, as is often the case, so closely as to 

 loosen many of the grass roots, will the next season produce but 

 a small allowance of feed ; but that, with prudent cropping, will 

 yield an abundance of luxuriant food. 



With wise and careful management in this respect, and with 

 a sufficient quantity and a good quality of gypsum sown per 

 acre, occasionally, as required, or its equivalent in weight of 

 some other sustaining and invigorating agent of fertility, will 

 preserve the productiveness of our naturally good pasture-lands 

 to the end of time ; and, certainly, for those having less of the 

 original elements of vitality and energy, this peculiar caution 

 and care is all the more essential. 



In 1849, I purchased a small farm, divided, as usual, into 

 pasturing and tillage. One pasture, containing five acres, slop- 

 ing gradually north-easterly, with a gravelly soil abounding in 

 small stones, was inclosed by a stone-wall and situated on the 

 highest point of the farm. It was completely overrun by small 



