The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-03-18
GLOVER AND TIMOTHY.
Randolph, N. ", Jan. 2Olh,

Randolph, ~. y :, Jan. 20th, t6oI.
Messrs. Editors ~ have read with no lit.
tie interest the remarks in notes Of Western
Travel. and the communications Of your cor
respondent. W. Tappan, so far as they re-
aic to seeding to cloyer and timothy, their
relative values, and the proper time Of cut.
ting them for hay.
The subject Of grasses, and their cultiya-
ti0n, is Of more than ordinary importance to
the farmer Of the Southern Tier Of coun-
ties, and should be more freely discussed by
the intelligent and practical farmers whp are
deriving their greatest income from the pros
ducts d the dairy. aud the supply Of the
shambles.
The little experience have had, and my
opportunity for observation, have satisfied
me that neither clover or Timothy should be
grown alone. except il be for the seed. That
the best meadows and pastures should not
only include them buth, as the two most va
luable grasses we grow, but should include
other varieties. of which the late Red Top
(Agi ostis vulgaris) should be one. The habits
and growth Of these grasses are very dissimi.
lar. and the growing of them together i'm
proves the quality o. each. do not ix a
very high value to thrifty. coarse clover. for
hay, aud certainly the same quality OF tlmo-
Thy. cut at tie proper time for cutting. makes
hut an indifferent quality Of hay. The best
hay for general feeding. to all kinds Of stock. !.
in my estimation, would be mixture ol
#" medium' red clover. timothy, and red top.
grown on rich, well cultivated, meadow land. !.
IRON liberal (may say heavy seeding oi
their kinds. The red top. soon after seeding,
forms a close. yelsety sod, completely cover.
ing the ground, making of itself, fiue qual'.
Iiy Of hay. highly rrlished BY all kinds oi
stock, aud pasture not rxcelled BY any other
grass. Clover, it is well known, grows in
stools, or single heads. from long, carrot.
shaped root whist timothy is also produced
in siools. or heads, from one or more bulbs.
The space between these stools, or heads
af clover or timothy, and which are often a
greater portion Of the surface, are naked. and
or course exposed 10 the drying effects OF the
winds aud scorching sun, until, after years,
white clover and June grass. have gradulls
crept in and frumed sod. These spaces,
whist thus exposed, are subjected to the ac-
tion of the frost, and after the trst winter,
your correspondent would not only hnd has
, clio, er-roots upon the surface, but would tind
them y ell mixed with the bulbs OF the Phleum
Prstense. The red top sends out numerous
long. slender, creeping roots. throwing up
multitude Of long. slender stalks. extending
and Multiplying itself. until the whole surface
/. uf the ground is interviewer with net-work
, of fibrous roots. aud covered and completely
: shaded wilha vigorous growth Of mos; tender
and delicious herbage and which also iasor,
the production Of fine growth aud NOR,
I tender quality, both OF clover and timothy
The red top soon forms most perfect shlel,
against the driving aud scorehing effects o
!. the winds and sun in the summer, AMI pro
lection against the heasing of the frosts II
! winter a fine muehing. enriching the groun,
BY its shade and moisture, improving th
quality, and increasing the quantity Of th
product; siiarding all the advantages Of COY
y ering claimed by Gurneyism, and forming
permanent meadow 10 the place Of one iha
would soon run out.
Your views, Mr.. Editor, in regard 10 III
proper time TO cut grass lor hay, perlectl
coincide with mine. have cut grass whc
Just coming into blossom. aud 10 all lis stage
OF growth, until il became quite ripe. and III
seeds even, mostly shelled of. now cut .
nearly as can. when the grass has just pa,
: sed out OF blassom, and the seed not full
perfected. My stock thrive beitrron u theI
and seem TO relish il better Than when c,
earlier, or later. | used to cut sumo qui
r. early, aud cure carefully. to feed to colt
ID ralyes, and such stock as wished TO give .
= extra care. | have abandoned that, AT,
'n findirg that they kept better. aud had high,
:, !, relish Er bright hay. cut and cured careful
" at, ornear. maturity. ! am also well satisti'
- that macy meadows Of timothy grass Al
'Ie irrecoyerably ruined by cutting too elUse, a.
cd too early, before the bulbs have suihcieni
,e- matured.
- differ with your correspondent respectii
~ the quality of Western timothy seed. Fro
= what have seen Of cultivated prairie land
can hardly be satisfied that psrer
,e. cleaner quality Of seed can be produced. U
81. cultivation Of their fields Ol corn Is not
'de much Tor the purpose ~ destroying nOsiu
Of weeds, as to stir aud Iresl,cn the soil. D
a, best seed here, is from the West, forward
" lrum reliable sources, and is pure. We Ia
no fears Of daisies or Canada thistles. or .
other Of the pests Of the farm. that are Z
auently introduced to- our arquaintance
some such way. Yours respectfully.
SPENCER SCUDDER.
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