98 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



instances of that kind. I remember one gentleman in particular, 

 who became possessed of a farm there a number of years ago ; 

 and the question arose in his mind how he should renovate his 

 pastures. He had heard that plaster was one of the means to 

 be used with effect, and he went to Boston, selected his plaster, 

 and brought it home. It was so new an idea that he was 

 ashamed to let his neighbors know what he had in his sleigh, 

 and kept it covered up ; but they found out what he had got, 

 and what he was going to do with it, and they ridiculed him ; 

 but he went on with t\\§ operation, and spread it upon his hill- 

 sides and upon his pastures. Very, early in the season, his 

 neighbors began to inquire " What has produced such an effect 

 upon your pastures ? " " Why, it is that rock that you ridiculed 

 me for bringing up." This was in the town of Barre. This 

 method, of course, spread very rapidly, and the land in that 

 town is of the character that is benefitted very much by the use 

 of plaster, and it has been of great advantage there ; and so it 

 has in the town where I reside. Still, there are some pastures 

 that are not improved by plaster. 



It has been stated here, that mowing brush below the leaves 

 would be sure to eradicate it after a time. It may be so, but it 

 strikes me that in some cases it would be an expensive way. It 

 is very difficult to cut below the leaves of the low laurel, which 

 grows round stones. It is next to impossible to do it. Here is 

 the low laurel, and the little vines of " five-finger," and other 

 weeds, upon a pasture so thick that there is but very little grass 

 growing upon it. Now, I would ask, How can this pasture be 

 renovated but by the plough ? It seems to me that the only 

 way, or, if not the only way, tlie easiest way, to renovate such a 

 pasture is to pvit these weeds underneath by the plough, and 

 either to cultivate or sow with rye and seed it, and let it be fed 

 in that way. If it can be ploughed so as to turn the brush 

 under and keep them under, perhaps the latter way would 

 answer ; but if it cannot, it strikes me the only way is to culti- 

 vate it until you do kill the brush. 



I have, for a number of years, practised spreading the manure 

 dropped by cattle, and it is practised to a considerable extent by 

 the farmers in our vicinity. I consider that it pays well for the 

 labor of doing it. 



