American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-02-11
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60 y AB 1917
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Tho Farmers Department.
THE HUNGARIAN GRASS.

Mr.. Editor Of the Post :-Knowinc
that you feel great interest in what
ever concerns agriculture, I will state
what l know concerning the Hungar-
on Grass that our farmers have been
cultivating for few years with great
success.
Some living at a distance suppose this
valuable grass to be some of our native
or wild grasses, found in some of our
secluded prairies, while others have
thought that it was milet. To the for.
mer, we reply that this grass seed was
brought to the far west by one of the
Hugarian eXiles who came to our new
country to occupy lands given them by
Congress. They came direct from Tur,
key, whittier they had been since the
downfall of their country, to Iowa, five
years ago, and without doubt procured
the seed somewhere in the Turkish en-
pire. To the latter, we reply that our
farmers have raised millet for several
years, and that Hungarian Grass re.
sembles millot about as much AZ rye
does bald wheat, and no more than mil
let does fox tail grass, and Hungarian
resembles millet about as much as it
does timothy. 1t has its peculiar dis
tlnctlye features, the same as any other
plant.
1t matters but little where it came
from, or by what name it is called; the
practical question is, is it good crop
to cultivate, and does it pay better than
other crops of a similar character ? I
lind, after four years culture, that it is
one OF the most productive, most use,
tul, most nutritious, and most profita.
BILE crops l have ever seen raised in our
country. 1t usually grows with us from.
three to four and half, and even five
feet high, very thick and heavy, stools
out equal to rye or oats, and the aver
age weight of crops Of our country have
been from four to six tons of good dry
hay to the acre, since its culture, four
years, raised upon such lands as We
raise corn, wheat, oats, and barley
upon.
Our County Agricultural Society Of
fered premium, the past season, for
an acre, and the yield was eight tons
and thirty-five pounds to the acre, of
good, dry hay,suitablo to put in stack,
duly sworn to by disinterestcd persons.
and tho adjoining counties premium
crop was seven tons, two hundred and
ten pounds taken for the same purpose.
There were several fields right adjoin
ing me very near as good as those
This almost staggers belief, but 1t is
true, as can prove, and will, if ncccs.
sary, by more than thousand ccrtili.
Gates and ailidavits. Our horses, cat
tic and sheep love this crop better than
any other grass we raise better than
oats, and will leave any kind of feed to
eat it, and will eat it all clean to the
last spear. 1t also bears a seed that is
very rich, from thirty to fifty bushels
to the acre, wei Ching about fifty pounds
to the bnshel. All kinds of stock ard
poultry love the seed, and fatten upon
1t equal to corn or oats. Indeed, it is
the best crop for all domestic animals,
that have ever seen, and | have been
farming in Iowa for fifteen years, and
formerly in the Eastern States. can.
not speak in too high terms of this crop,
and l know not Of single person in
our whole section Of the country, but
Will corroboratc every word | say.
We find that it docs not impovcrish
our lend any more than corn, wheat or
rye, nor as much as oats.
1t interfercs with no other crop, be-
ing sown about late corn planting time,
or after the weather and ground get
good and warm, and can be harvested
after all other crops are in.
One bushel Of seed sows three acres
l believe any ground that will grow In
dian corn will grow Hungarian Grass.
] have no doubt that this crop will COM
plctely change the character of the az
rlculture of our country. 1t seems to
be so exactly adapted to our climate,
which makes it shoot up so stout and
strong, as by magic. 1t makes good
crop to cut in six weeks, or it may stand
six months and get quite ripe, With out
injury. 1t is the hardest grass | ever
saw, and will, whom cut down, take a
vast amount Of wet weather with little
injury. | have had it myself take eight
and ten days Of damp weather and hea,
Wy rains with but little injury, while
any other grass, know Of, woald have
been black, rotten and worthless.
1t is easily cured, and may be cut
down and put up the next day. There
was at first difference Of opinions as
to its character, but now l can in al!
candor tell you that it has exceeded
the most sanguine expectations Of its
Erin,,Ir. n.l n.l..-l-.