USING THE PASTURE.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1027, 30 March 1894, Page 3

USING THE PASTURE.

«. Henry Stewart says in the Country Gentleman : — Any pasture may be trebled in its usefulness and value by dividing it into two parts, using one while the other part is left to recover its growth. As the constant dropping will hollow a rock, while if the whole quantity falling in 10 years should be poured on it at once it would show no trace of wearing, so the pasture constantly eaten down is worn away, when by feeding it to an equivalent extent at intervals it will suffer no injury, and furnish feed for twice the number of stock. It is this continuous gnawing at the short, weak herbage, giving no opportunity for recovery, that ruins pastures so quickly. Thus 20 acres of good pasture may be made to feed 20 head by this alternate method of use and rest, when 10 head, or even five, will keep it bare, and themsHvos as poor as the herbage is. And the effect of this resting will be even more apparent if, when the animals are turned off one section, the grass be stimulated by a. dressing of 1001 b of nitrate of soda, and the same of gypsum. Then by such liberal management, with the precautionary care suggested, the liberal soul will be made fat along with his well-fed stock.