White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-07-30
fnr tBt farn1tr.
Orchard Grass.

American Coek's.foot and Orchard
gross are different names given to the
Doctylis !glOHerata Of botanists. This
is one of the most abiding grasses we
have. 1t may be known by its coarse
appearance, both Of the leaf and seed
spike, its broad leaves, seed glums re-
sembling a cocks foot, and also by its
whitish-green hue. 1t is probably better
adapted than any other grass to sow with
clover and other seeds for permanent
pasture, and for a crop of hay, as it is
fit to cut with clover, and grows remark
ably quick after being cropped by cattle
Five or six days growth in summer suf-
fee to give good bite. Its good prop
critics consist in its early and rapid
growth, and in its resistance of drouth !;
but all agree, that to obtain its greatest
value it should be kept closely cropped
Sheep, it is said, will pass over every
other grass to feed upon it. If suffered
to grow long without being cropped, it
becomes coarse and harsh. Colonel
Powell. of Pennsylvania, after growing
it ten years, declares that it produces
more pasturage than any cultivated grass
that he has ever seen in America. On
being fed very close, 1t has been found to
afford good pasture after remaining five
days at rest. 1t is suitable to all aIable
soils. 1t abounds in seed, which is easily
gathered but, on account of its peculiar
lightness 1.-THE bushetpot weighing more
/ than twelve or fourteenpou J it should
be spread on floor and sprinkled with
water day or two before it is sown,
that il may become saturated, and more
easily germinate. Two bushels of seed
are sown to the acre, when sown alone,
am, half this quantity when sown with
clover. The orchard grass should be cut
early when intended for hay, as it dimin-
ishes two-seventhS in value, as hay, when
permitted to ripen its seeds. When cut
early with clover, the after-growth, or
rowen, is very abundant.
With respect to the general culture of
grasses, though no department of agricul-
ture is more simple in the execution, yet,
from the nature of grasses, considerable
Judgment is required in the design
! Though grasses abound in every soil and
situation, yet all the species do not abound
in every soil and situation indiferently.
On the contrary, no class of perfect
plants are so absolute aEA unalterable in
their choice in this respect. The creep
ing-rooted and stoloniferous grasses will
grow readily on moist soils but the
fibrous-rooted species, and especially the
more delicate upland grasses, require par
ticular attention as to the soil in which
they are sown for in many soils they
will not come up at all. -or they die in
few years, giving place to the grasses
which would naturally spring up in such
soil, when left to a state Of nature.
Hence, in sowing down lands for perma-
nent pasture, it is good method to make
choice of those grasses which thrive best
in adjoining and similarly -circumstanced
pastures, for part of the seed, and to
mix With these what are considered the
very best kinds.
Although the catalogue of grasses, in
/ digenous and foreign, which are useful
for forage, is extensive, yet the number
cultivated, or propagated artiicially, is
very limited, and, indeed, it is but re-
Gently. not perhaps half century, that
we have been in the habit of sowing
grass seeds at all. The practice is, how
ever, gaining. and it is reasonable to
believe, that many species will ere long
be advantageously cultivated, which have
hitherto altogether escaped the notice of
/ the farmer.