112 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



pretty thoroughly understood. Wherever land is in a suitable 

 condition to receive either of tliese fertilizers, great benefit 

 arises from a judicious use. 



On old worn-out pastures, however, something more is 

 evidently necessary, especially where the soil is so far exhausted 

 as to be incapable of restoration by rest, and where bushes 

 have obtained the mastery. In such a case as this, resort must 

 be had to the axe and bush-hook, to fire, the plough, manure 

 and seeding. 



How far the clearing, ploughing and seeding of pastures can 

 be carried with profit, each farmer must judge for himself. In 

 one or two instances, tlie experiment has been carried to a con- 

 siderable extent in this county. A large tract of comparatively 

 level land lying on the Merrimac River has been cleared of 

 bushes, ploughed, and allowed to lie fallow one year. It has 

 then been cross-ploughed, harrowed and seeded with rye and 

 grass. In this case, the value of the land for grazing purposes 

 has been largely increased. In the eastern part of the county, 

 a hill-side pasture has been treated in the same manner ; with 

 what success we are unable to learn. It is possible that many 

 acres of land now wholly unproductive, could be brought, by 

 this process, into valuable pastures, without great expense, 

 provided that the work is done in the intervals of more 

 pressing duties during the season. The precise cost cannot 

 be estimated, inasmuch as it would dei)cnd very much on the 

 location of the land, and the time occupied in ploughing and 

 fallowing. It is very desirable that some practical farmer 

 should make an accurate return of the expense incurred per 

 acre by this process. If it can be done advantageously, what a 

 vast benefit would be the reclaiming of a few acres each year, 

 on most of our farms. At any rate, we trust the time will soon 

 come when every farmer who prides himself on his corn and 

 hay crops, will learn that a growth of birches, bushes and briars 

 on his pastures cannot belong to any good system of farming. 



But one experiment in improving land was brought before 

 the committee, and this is of a somewliat novel cliaracter. It 

 consists of the clearing of old pasture-land for the purpose of 

 orcliarding ; and although it does not come under the (picstion 

 which we liave referred to, still it is entitled to careful attcn- 



