426 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and white top on others. On my grass plats this year on 

 which no nitrogen liad been applied with the minerals for 

 years golden rod was abundant, while the plat having a half 

 ration of nitrogen contained some of this weed, but none 

 was found in the section where nitrogen was used in full 

 formula. The record of the decline of our pastures is read 

 on their face. Weeds, bushes and change in character of 

 grasses tell us of a century's flow of nitrogen, lime and phos- 

 phoric acid from the soil, and in their character tell us, too, 

 that these have not gone in proportionate amounts. 



Where 1,000 pounds of beef are removed from the pas- 

 tures, there go 1,8 pounds of potash, 25.2 pounds of nitro- 

 gen, 19.2 pounds of phosphoric acid and 21.4 pounds of 

 lime. As potash is much more abundant in the soil than 

 phosphoric acid, it will be seen that selling beef is selling- 

 out of the pasture phosjjhoric acid in greatly undue ratio, 

 while lime and nitrogen go at a good pace. 



The sale of milk, too, is a sale of the phosphate of our 

 soils in ratio to total supply faster than potash, — 1,000 

 pounds containing 5.3 pounds of nitrogen, 1.9 pounds i)f 

 phosphoric acid and 1.8 pounds of potash. Here, however, 

 it is nitrogen that is talcen in largest amount, the material 

 that grasses find it most difiicult to obtain. 



Pastures Dead Property. 

 This drain of phosphates and change of herbage have left so 

 little of easily available and palatable foods that animals will 

 not eat excess food enough for a growth yielding economic 

 results. Growth has been reduced per season to from 150 

 to 175 pounds, and on the best pastures 200 pounds. Such 

 groAvth has involved so much of labor that cattle wall con- 

 sume only little more than food of maintenance rather than 

 endure more strain in securing food. The growth olitained 

 must go into the class of low-selling beef, Avith the result 

 that the revenue will not average over $1.20 to $1.40 per 

 acre, — little more than taxes and care of pasture. Indeed, 

 we should be better oft* without them, as dependence upon 

 them compels the sale of a lower grade of beef than can 

 possibly yield a })rofit, and compels us to winter stock 



