The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-07-31
Room for Experiments ns to grasses.

The New England Farmer states that
there are as many as 1000 varieties of grass
es, scattered over various parts of the world,
and that of these only three or four, or per-
haps half a dozen, are under general cultiva-
ton among This may probably be ow-
ing TO the little attention which has been
given to the grass crop compared with other
crops 1t seems highly probable that of
several thousands of varieties of grass there
may be some, not yet improved by cultiva-
ton, which might equal or ou'strip in useful
ness, any or all Of those now in general use.
discovery Of this kind is not likely to be
made, however, except by means Of some
well-planned and carefully conducted expert
ments There may be among the readers
OF this, some who have all the requisites for
such experiments-chief among which are
time, taste and tact-and whose labors in this
direction may be rewarded by discovery
Of great advantage to the agricultural inter
ests of the country.
On the existing announcements 10 further
Investigations and on the probability Of for
tunate discoveries, the editor of the n T.
Farmer thus expresses his views:
We know not but that among those grass
esq indigenous to our soils there may be those
TAR better than our herds grass, red-top, or
cloyers. With us a dozen varieties, perhaps,
"buii tAHdurt our isl, ana Vet some tIillk
that there is no more room for investigation,
and for more accurate knowledge Of the
things around us; that hand-work is better
and more profitable than seeking after new
things by head-work. Who knows but that
IN our fields, or on the wayside, trampled on
and despised bymen, or perhaps all unknown,
there is an unobtrusive plant springing up,
blossoming and struggling from year to year
tor notice and for a frmer hold,-but as of
rem sought and eagerly fed off by the graz
ing animal who only knows how to appre-
ciate ti
Like the potato, as large as walnu:s III its
native state, or the peach, bitter and dry and .
offensive, or the pear, with its hard, woody |
fesh or the apple tree, with its thorns, so
this humble plant may only want the foster
ing care of man to outvie the beautiful pur-
pie bloom Of the herds grass, or the carrnine
Of the gracefully tasselled red top, and yield
in nutritive matter more than either of these
or the richest clovers.
Why did Infinite Wisdom create 1000
varieties of grasses! Was it that man should
avail himself Of but one, and the others re-
main unsought, untasted and inappropriate
cdi Or did He expect that the reason with
which lie IMAM is endowed. and the inteli-
eence which he might gain, would lead to
and a choice of these numerous
varieties? Is there not room, then, for study
and research.
The probability certainly seems not incon-
siderable that there may be some ont of the
1000 varieties Of grasses which might be
cultivated with as great or greater advantages
than the two in most common use, timothy
and rcd-top. 1t would be surprising indeed,
If, among such an immense number, men of
enterprise should not be able to discover
more than two, or half dozen, which, by the
which cultivation ould effect,
could be grown with advantage to man and
beast-to the farmer and to all his stock
Couatry Gentleman.