24 University of Xew Hampshire [Sta. Bull. 326 



Pulling is usually about 95 per cent, cutting- about CO per cent, and 

 burning about 85 per cent effective the first year. With most kinds 

 of brush, all three methods are about equally effective by the begin- 

 ning of the third year. 



Sweet fern, blueberry (low bush), sheep laurel, and blackberries 

 are very persistant. Blueberry and sheep laurel are too difficult to 

 pull and too short or too hard-stemmed to cut. As yet seasonal 

 conditions have been such that twice a year burning could not be 

 practiced as a control for the two shrubs. 



Grazing was permitted after brush removal and fertilizing as a 

 necessary part of brush control. The new brush growth, particularly 

 of gray birch, was made more palatal:)le by fertilizer treatment and 

 was browsed by the cattle. Tb.ere was less browsing on hardback, 

 meadow sweet, and high bush blueberry, and practicall}' none on 

 sweet fern, sheep laurel or low bush blueberry. 



While moss covered a rather high percentage of the ground on 

 these plots, it is not a serious deterrent to pasture improvement. If 

 soil conditions are such that good pasture plants can grow, the moss 

 will soon be crowded out. While nitrate of soda materially reduces 

 the amount of moss, the increase in good pasture herbage is very 

 slow. Improvement comes more quickly with lime, superphosphate, 

 and potash. 



Because of the high labor requirement in removing brush, it is 

 desirable to clear a small area each }ear. probably not more than 

 two to five acres depending on the kind and the amount of brush. The 

 amount of land cleared each year should give, with the area already 

 improved, from 1^ to 1^ acres of improved pasture per cow by the 

 ejid of. six to ten years. 

 "The f>asturc improvement program should start with: 



^. T. IitipTovement of the good permanent pasture areas already 

 free'^fom brush. 



9 



.■\s hay yields improve, utilization of the poorer, rougher 

 hayiand for..pe'i:manent pasture. 

 3. Removal of brush from the better soils and treatment with 

 one t(jn of lime and 200 pounds of 20 per cent superphosphate, 

 or its equivalent per acre. In the second year, application of 

 150 pounds of muriate of potash will increase and hold tbr 

 wild white clover. 



The fertilizer program should be : 



1. One ton lime, 200 pounds superphosphate per acre the first 

 year. 



2. One hundred and fifty potmds muriate of potash per acre the 

 second year. 



3. Three hundred pounds superphosphate per acre the third 

 year. 



4. One hundred fifty pounds muriate of potash per acre the 

 fourth or fifth year. 



5. One ton of lime per acre the sixth year. 



