New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-18
THE YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES.
FOURTEENTH DAY.


From Our Own Reporter.
NEw-HAvEs, Feb. 16, 1860.
Two new lecturers were introduced TO us to-day, in
the persops OF Mr.. John Stanton Gould of Hudson,
N Y, and Mr. joseph Harris, editor of The GcHesee
Farmer Mr. Gould's will be familiar to all old
subscribers TO paper for he was Chairman OF the
famous national reaper trial of the United States Agri
cultural Society His lecture was not only replee
with interesting facts and practical suggestions, but
adorned with tbose graces Of scholarship he knows
80 well how 10 employ.
After an alusicI TO the aesthetic character of the
grasses their economical relations adverted TO.
Providence has atested their importance by the pro-
vision it has made for their diffusion and preservation,
while other plants such az the hg orange and grape,
can only be successfully cultivated within narrow belts
of latitude the grasses extend over the whole globe
Very curious and various provisions made for the
difusions of the seeds; many of them are furnished
with creeping roots They not like other plants in
jured by the Iacerson of their heritage One-sxh Of
all the plants on the globe belong to this famiy-23O
genera including 900 species already known, and
new species are constantly presenting themseives-
Sx.tenths OF the cultivated OF New YORK 10 de-
voted 10 the growth OF grass and the annual value of
the crop $50 GOO 000 In the ak New England States
its annual value is Sc 900, O00 In the United States
$500, 600 600. If we succeed in making two blades OF
our annual income s3OO, OOO,OO0.
1t wac argued that we might easily double our pro-
duction Of grass if we would set vigorously at work
10 accomplish il. The average production OF New
York is 96 of hay TO the 100 acres but the aver
age production OF Kings County 10 100 uns 20 the 100
acres This result wholly due 10 the skill OF the farm
ere, Sc lis natural soil 10 fur below the average Of the
c''te Ut richness, II the skill were eXerted IN
othsr "Hnn' .,le same result viii follow. Another
cause of the dmnution Of gran IL the prevalence OF
l. II Of ba MIA nfa in
meadows are weeds.
Much ignorance exists among farmersi very 10"
know the of the grasses growing on their iarms
nor can they distinguish from another Ihey Know
little nothing Of the comparative nutilnve yalnes VI
the different species nor of the soils best adapted 70
them: nor Of The special purposes to which they are
applicable. Ii was ale5ged that chemistry can never
by itself, furnish safe and reliable guue W sde
nutrve values Of the grasses, because theie were re
ouenty obstacles 10 the assimilation by the Phima OF
the noutshmen contained III the grass. linus Fhr0g.
mates oormpais common reed-grass had coating OF
zecs 70 thick that il would cut the stomachs OF am
mails other species had sharp spines %nlcn
animals from eating il; others combined unwhoiesoe
eem mis- in their nutrime thence, whatever nouris
ment might be contained in these was quite useless 10
the farmer.
Mpch of observation and experiment IL necessary
before we pretend 10 understand the grasses. Inc
making Of artificial meadows ia an art yet ts infancy
We nev hear of them in England PRIOR 70 A. u. looi
nor in this country until about d. i720 The alter
ed to the following points: oo
l. Tie special use of each Of the 5000 species of
grass. 80,
species should be ascerained by chemical analysis and
practical tests .
ILL., The adaptation Of each species to different soils,
climates and circun stances.
~ The period of It's growth when IL contains the
greatest Of those properties on which It's value
chiefly depends.
V Tie kind of culture aud the lnanures best adapted
to stimulate liz growth and TO increase Its valuable
properties.
vi The time of towering of each species, and the
time when II TeopeDs iis seed.
VII The species Of insects which prey upon y, and
The heft modes of preventing their ravages.
VIII Tire best and mort economical means oil curing
and preserving each species Of grass.
To cradle farmers 20 make these observations they
were advised TO study Botany; aud the remainder OF
the lecture occupied Ill describing the parts oil the
grass which mainly resoTted 10 in order TO estap-
sh the distinctions Of species. Some of these descrp
tons are peculiarly valuable because not given In any
work on Botany which can now recall. The leaves
consist of the following parts: (dJ The Shea, whlcn
represents the petoe leaf stalk OF other pansi ~
the Lfeeie or tongue lei the Lamina, blade or fiat
mart of the leaf that which in popular language IL
called the leaf a The Sheath is the footsalk OF the
leaf. The whole length OF II, which II yanaole, IL
folded around the stalk lculm) from which can be
loosened by upwindipg without fracture, crcnm-
stance which serves 10 distinguish the grasses from
the ssdges (bl The ligue, OF tongue. AT the point
whese the sheath ends and TIE bade begins, occurs
thin and usually white semi.t-ansparent membrane,
termed the hgule. As the botanical works barely Dc
scIibe THE, and still perpex NJ with constant illusions
10 ths and other pars of which we have about az little
knowledge Of the Chociaw alphabet IL If well 10
remark that this gut is said to be entire when It has
no seements IBID when is divided az the apex INTO
two paris ooeat1d when appears a. II torn on inc
margin; cilaied when the margin IL get with shor'i
projecting hairs; fvnc0ted when che upper part ter
inmates In transverse line; acute when IL has ashor
sharp point; and aecunssaied when has long pro-
jectDg point. II has great value in enabling us re
quepy 10 distinguish between two grasses otherwiso
very similar in appearance, but Of widely djferent nu.
sitive vane. Speaking of the area under the g.ss,s
ia European conntIies, Dir. Gould made Ioreipie e
Illustration Of his subject by comparing the aggregass
products IN forage and cereal crops IN France and
England France has * per cent OF her cuirVa1ea
under cereals, while England has but :, Per een.
of grain for every individual OF her population an
Hnay, while France produces only 8. bushels. mus,
with ess than half Of the proporonate area hhder