IMPROVING PASTURES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2370, 7 November 1881, Page 4

IMPROVING PASTURES.

L" Nashville American.”]

The solid and liquid droppings of cattle and horses constitute the only fertilisers that most pastures receive. Ordinarily they are injurious rather than beneficial, so far as immediate results are concerned. The former destroy the grass on which they fall, and cause that which is quite near to grow very rank and have an uplcaaant flavour ; the same effect is also produced by the liquid excrements. Places in pastures moat frequented by animals are likely to grow up to weeds and rank grasses that no kind of stock will eat. By judicious management these droppings can be made to enrich all the soil in a pasture. If a light harrow be drawn over the soil it will break up the hard dung and scatter th>* pieces over the surface of the ground. This work can also be done with a hoe, or a block of wood attached to a handle. This method of breaking up and scattering dung in pastures is general in the Bast, and should bo introduced in this part of the country. If the seed of red and white clover be scattered on the places where the droppings lie it will spring up and grow luxuriantly. If a few white clover plants become established on'arich soil they will spread and occupy a considerable space. A small amount of seed distributed as suggested will

be the means of introducing this most valuable forage plant into a pasture at very little expense. A handful of ground gypsum or land plaster scattered over the places where the excrements were dropped will have a very beneficial effect. It will fix the ammonia that would otherwise pass oil in the air. Pastures become unproductive for want of attention to small matters. By scattering dung dropped on the ground, sowing a small amount of clover and grass seed, and applying ashes and land plaster as top dressings, the feed will increase in quantity and improve in quality year by year.