Western Reserve chronicle and weekly transcript of the times. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1854-1855, 1855-03-07
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FOWL MEADOW GRASS.

VIC have several umeS spoken OF the
estimation in which Fowl grass is held in
New England. When we were a farmer
boy, we had upon the estate piece of
swale in this grass, which turned out
more than double to the acre what was
cut from the balance of good meadow.
The spire is never coarse, however rank
the crop, and is subject to no waste.
This grass was growing wild in Madawas-
ka, before the place was settled by the
Arcadian French. 1t was said to have
been introduced into the lands about
Barnstable, by water fowls depositing
the seed, from which circumstance it was
called fosOlmeadOw grass. The following
Just remarks we find in report by G. E.
Potter, of Manchester, in the last volume
of the Translations of the N. H. State
Agricultural Society:
Fowl Meadow grass, { Poa Nervata, J
is amostexcellentgrass 70 hay making, and
and as such is deserving Of greater atten-
ton from the farmer 1t IS luxuriant
sweet, stocky grass, delighting in rich
damp soil. In appearance it is much
like Redtop, but is more luxuriant and
stocky. 1t is placed down by botanists as
perennial; but in this we think are mis-
taken, and that Fowl meadow is 6ies-
nial. This accounts for the fact that
Fowl meadow is so easily killed out"
Being ofluxuriant growth, it is cut before
much of it goes to seed, and thus it does
not perpetuate itself, and too often runs
out. The true policy is to let it " sow
itself" This il will do if left to itself
Having become ripe, the seeds scatter
out, and come up in the fall, ripening
the follloing year, thus increasing the
number of stalks, and spreading itself
over the adjacent soil.
Ifcut before it is ripe, this chance of
self propagatiOnis destroyed. Now there
is no grass that can be left to ripen with
so little disadvantage to its hay making
properties. After the heads of Fowl
Meadow have ripened and the seeds
have fallen out, it will be found that the
lower portions of the stalk are green,
lively and juicy, promising all the good
qualities for hay making. This is pc
culiarity in the fowl meadow grass posses
sed by no other grass. The fact is to be
accounted for by the nature of the grass.
1t is juicy, and grows very thick and COM
pact, so that the sun rarely reaches the
lower part of the stalks to dry them up.
This is the most profitable grass to grow
in runs" and meadows, where the soil is
rich and damp. 1t delights in the deltas
at the mouths ofbrooks, where tits enriched
by every spray or flash of water, or on
lands irrigated by spring and fall freshets.
In such position, it will produce as much
hay as can well be made upon the ground,
the swaths showing as much solid and val
nable matter as many ofthe ordinary win
rows upland in the coun try. Its sweet
ness and heart commend it to stock in gen.
eral, and we hope that ii will be generally
introduced among our farmers. The seed
is readily to be bought at the seed stores,
and those who do not grow it now will do
we'll To commence its cultivation upon all
lands suited TO its nature. On lands ap-
propriate to its culture, there can be no
more proftable grass for hay making.