Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-10-31
FROM THE AMERICAN FARMER.

Union Of Orchard Grass and Clovcy.
Culpepper Courthouse, 18th Sept. 1920.
MIR. SEINNER-In your last number,
a Farmer requests Information respect
ing the union of Orchard Grass with
Clover, SC. and having myself for about
90. years followed the system-I will
with pleasure offer my experience re-
speeding it.-P erhaps there are no other
two grasses that can be sown together
with so great advantage by their
union am convinced that the crop is
nearly double what it would be if either
were sown separately; they grow and
flourish well together, come to maturity
about the same time, and clover is sup
ported from falling by the uncommon
strength Of the orchard grass. The
common red cloves'* and orchard grass
are among the earliest of all grasses,
they suit admirably together if properly
managed-they should be sown on en-
closed lots, and never be pastured, or
the tender clover will soon be destroyed
by the treading of the beasts, and even
the crop of orchard grass, though un-
commonly hardy, will thereby be greatly
diminished. l commonly commence
cutting and feeding from my lots in
April, when the grass gets up TO about
IL or 10 inches; one acre adordipg a
sufficiency of green food for or % head
of horses or cattle from that time until
frost. From the conveniences and adj
vantages to be derived from lots like
these, is it not wonderful that they are
not more common? The ground to be
sown in orchard grass and common red
clover, should be well MANFRED and
ploughed deep in November, let it lay
undisturbed until March following, then
as early in that month as the weather
will admit, give another dressing of
manure, cross plough and harrow the
ground until it is well pulv erised this
done, mix half bushel of orchard grass
seed with bushel of plaster which SOW
on one acre-then 8 quarts Of clover
seed in as much more plaster and SOW
it likewise-give the ground light
narrowing to cover the seed.-Oats
might be sown and ploughed in before
the seed is sown; but l would prefer
emitting the oats, as from their growth
they are apt to smother the young grass
should weeds put up, they should be
drawn up and the grass while young be
kept clean.
*There is sort of grass called Sappling
Glover, much like the red, only that it comes
later-a union with it and timothy, no doubt
would answer well, they being matured about
the same time.
Mr.. SKINNER-What we call smut in
wheat is increasing in very alarming
degree, and it is the duty of every one to
endeavor to check its progress.
find in Duhamel's Elements of Agri-
culture, Vol. /. page 274,. a very long
chapter on the distempers of corn, in
which he has closely investigated the
subject; he calls the disease we COM
plain of Carbon or burnt grain, and
particularly distinguishes it from smut,
which sometimes have heard called
blast however the name is of no conse-
quence.
Mr.. Duhamel and Mr.. Tillet made a
variety of experiments on the subject,
and although they could not ascertain
the cause, they were satisfied that the
disease was communicated by the dust of
the distempered grain, and by clearing
their seed wheat of the black grains, as
we'll as possible, and washing it in such
sleeps as they recommended, their crops
were not very materially injured. This
is fatal disease, it is spreading far and
wide, and must if possible be checked.