19-1 HOW TO MAKE THE FAEM PAY. 



acre, turn the crop under before frost, and sow winter rye just 

 before it freezes up ; sow with the rye, or early in the spring, 

 before vegetation commences, one of the mixtures recommended 

 for pastures, not less than six or eight varieties of grass seed. 

 When it it desirable to improve pastures without plowing, 

 apply a liberal dressing of either good barnyard compost, bone- 

 dust, wood-ashes, or gypsum, and harrow with a heavy harrow, 

 with long 'and sharp teeth. Then sow a liberal mixture of 

 grass seeds and harrow in. Pastures treated thus should never 

 be fed early. The middle of summer or early autumn is soon 

 enough to turn stock on to it. The fertility of pastures should 

 be kept up by the application of compost, ashes, lime, bone- 

 dust, etc. If farmers will save and compost their solid and 

 Uquid manures, as recommended in Chapter III., they will soon 

 have some to spare for their pastures. Where brush and briars 

 have taken possession of the pasture, cut the brush, sow a few 

 bushels of plaster, and turn on a flock of sheep; continue this 

 two or three seasons, and you will get a fair pasture. A moder 

 ate application of muck, compost, lime, or ashes, every year, 

 would undoubtedly keep up our pastures and be profitable in 

 every respect. Making a pasture of mowing lands ; that is, 

 turning stock on after the hay has been cut, is an injurious and 

 exhaustive practice. It sometimes seems absolutely necessary 

 when pastures fail, but the less of it that is done, the better. 

 Bather sow an acre or two of corn to supply fodder in case of 

 drought. 



The Selection op Grass Seed, whether for meadow or 

 pasture, is an important consideration. Old seeds are mixed 

 with new, and not more than half a crop is the consequence. 

 The safest way is to raise your own seeds, or buy of some 

 neighbor in whom you have confidence. 



You can certainly raise your own clover, timothy, orchard 



