The Farmer's School Book

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837 Excerpt: ...in a few months, and never can resist the violence of disorderly cattle; suffering weeds and bushes to overrun the land; keeping all the pasture land in one enclosure; turning in all sorts of stock together; suffering the fence to drop down in autumn, so as to lay the pasture common to all the cattle and swine that please to enter; and not puting up the fence again till the first of May, or later. Such management is too common in all the parts of this country with which I am most acquainted. I would hope it is not universal. 14. Land which is constantly used as pasture will be enriched. Therefore it is advisable to mow a pasture lot once in three or four years, if the surface be so level as to admit of it. In the mean time, to make amends for the loss of pasture, a mowing lot may be pastured. It will thus be improved: and if the grass do not grow so rank afterwards in the pasture lot, it will be more clear of weeds, and bear better grass. Alternate pasturing and mowing has the advantage of saving a good deal of expense and trouble in manuring the mowing grounds. 15. Though pastures need manuring less than other lands, yet, when bushes, bad weeds, dec. are burnt upon them, the ashes should be spread thinly over the surface. The grass will thus be improved; and grass seeds should be sown upon the burnt spots, that no part may be vacant of grass. 16. Sheep, calves, and horses, unless they are worked, it is said, require no water in their pastures. The want of water induces them to feed in the night, when the dew is on and the grass the more nutritious. Cows however want pure water. In pastures which are on side-hills, water may generally be obtained by digging horizontally into the side of the hill, till it is found, and then carrying it out with a pipe.--Dea...