152 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



were so fairly well chosen that this practice, for tifty years, 

 was not as evil in results as wc should anticipate. 



I have noticed many examples of the suggested benefit 

 from confining sheep and young cattle to portions of the 

 range, and also united with the sowing of clover seed 

 and use of plaster. In a term of ^^ears the pastures under 

 this treatment showed marked improvement. Certainly, 

 where we can harrow , sow grass and clover seed ; and har- 

 row in, with a dressing of compost, if it can be spared, when- 

 ever, from drouth or worms, the good turf fails. In many 

 cases this is to be preferred to ploughing, as thereby what 

 native grasses exist, which have showed their power to resist 

 the untoward influences, are spared, and, with good seasons, 

 will spread again to cover the ground. Only where foul 

 stuff" or bushes are to be destroyed would I prefer the 

 plough. 



Will it pay to use Commercial Fertilizers on Pastures ? 



That depends upon circumstances. If it will double the 

 produce at a cost not exceeding the value of the land, I 

 should say it would pay ; for the better pasture holds out, 

 even in bad seasons, and gives us pasture when we most need 

 it, while a poor pasture gives its scanty feed when we have 

 an abundance. Some applications, as ashes or bone-dust, 

 change the nature of the herbage as well as the quantity. 

 Clovers and the more nutritious grasses are encouraged, so 

 that a portion of a field so dressed will be eaten down more 

 closely than the rest, showing the preference the cattle have 

 for it, and its presumed more nutritive qualities. We should 

 hardly hope to eradicate weeds or bushes or to bring in good 

 grasses in this way, where even the seeds did not exist in the 

 soil. 



Drainage and Irrigation 



may do as much for our pastures, as for any of our fields. 

 Land sodden with water never produces much, nor is the 

 feed sweet and palatable. All wet or springy spots wnll be 

 greatly benefited liy open or covered drains. For thorough 

 and sightly work the latter are always to be preferred. 

 Irrigation by turning a spring or small stream across a 



