115 



It is doubtful whether any general rule can be adopted for 

 the increase or improvement of lands devoted to grazing. The 

 variety of tracts used for such a pui-pose, creates the necessity 

 for a great variety of treatment ; and the question is not so 

 much how can pastures be cultivated, as how can they be cul- 

 tivated to a profit. It is estimated that four acres of land are 

 required for the pastiu-age of a cow ; and it is probable that in 

 their present condition nearly twice that number are necessary. 

 The price of such land is about twenty dollars per acre. An 

 acre which will serve the pui-pose of four, should be considered 

 to be worth as much as four. How, then, can the farmer make 

 twenty dollars' worth of land yield as much as eighty dollars' 

 worth ? How can he improve, moreover, the quality of his 

 pasture grasses ? And how can he economically provide him- 

 self with good luxuriant grazing, upon which he can rely 

 dui'ing the entire season ? 



There is no doubt that, as a general thing, the cattle of 

 Essex County obtain a somewhat scanty supply of food from 

 the pastures. Brambles, and bushes, and weeds, and mosses, 

 occupy a very considerable portion of the land called pasture, 

 and are constantly encroaching upon that which is free from 

 this burthen. In the smooth pastiu-es, the grass is short on ac- 

 count of over-stocking, and, in many instances, not nutritious 

 on account of deficient cultivation or entire neglect. We have 

 but little land like that in newly settled countries, where the 

 clearing of a forest is followed by a luxui-iant growth of sweet 

 grasses ; and hence our business is chiefly with lands which 

 must be restored from decay. 



The application of various substances, such as ashes, lime, 

 plaster, bones, &c., as a top-dressing for exhausted pasture 

 lands, has been tried and discussed, until its merits seem to be 

 pretty thoroughly understood. Wherever land is in a suitable 

 condition to receive either of these fertilizers, great benefit 

 arises from a judicious use. 



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

 dently necessary ; especially where the soil is so far exhausted 



