Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-06-09
FARmERs' COLUMN.



The great value Of the Hay Crop and the lmpor-
lance of correct knowledge with reference to the
character Of the plants we cultivate, induces Us to
publish the following observations on Timothy, first
published by Professor KIRKLAND Of Ohio. We
copy as We find the article quoted in FLDr's Grasses
and Fo1age Plants
]. That Timothy grass Is a perennial plant, which
renews itself BY an annual formation Of " bulbs
OF perhaps, more correctly speaking, tubers in
which the vitality OF the plant Is concentrated dur
ing the winter. These form in Whatever locality
the plant IS selected, without reference dryness
or moisture From these proceed the stalks which
support the leaves and head, and from the same
source spread out the numerous ibIes forming the
true roots.
i ?. To insure perfect development Of tubers,
certain amount OF nutrition must be assimlaIed in
the leaves and returned to the base OF the plans,
! through the stalk.
3 As soon as the process Of nutrition is compile
/ ted, it becomes manifest by the appearance Of
state of deslccatiOn or dryness alway commencing
at point directly above either the first second
! joint Of the stem near the crown OF the tUter.
FROM this point the desccaton gradually progresses
: upwards, and the last portion OF the stalk that
yields up its freshness Is that adjoining the head.
COincidenr with the beginning of this process the
tuI development Of the seeds and with It's progress
| they mature Its earliest appearance is evidence
that both the tubers and seeds have received ther
requisite supplies Of nutrition, and that neither the
stalk northe leaves are longer necessary 10 aid them
in completing their maturity. 4 similar process
occurs in the union just above the crown Of the
| bulb, indicating the maturity Of that organ.
f. If the stalk be cut from the tubers before this
evidence Of maturity has appeared. the necessary
supplies Of nutrition giN be arrested, tLer proper
growth will cease, and effort sill be male TO
pair the injury by sending out small lateral tube s.
from which weak and unhealthy stalks viii proceed
at the expense Of the original tubers. all viii Clt
mately perish either by ne drOughts Of autumn or
/ the cold of winter.
s. The tubers together with one or two of the
lower joints Of the stalk, remain fresh and green
during the winter if lett tIeF natural course bat
if by any means, this green portion be severed
at any season OF the year. the result VIII be tie
death of the plant.
From these i've propositions the following conciu
siOns are drawn
l. That Timothy grass cannot under any cir
cumstances be adapted Tor pasture; the close nip
ping of horses and sheep fatal TO the tubers Whcl
are also extensively destroyed by swine If allowed
to run in the pasture
2. That the proper time for moving Timothy
at any time after the process Of desccaton has com
menced the stalk, as noted IN the third PROPOSE
ton 1t is not very essential whether 1t Is pretOrm
ed week earlier or later, provided it be postpone
till that evidence of maturity has become manifest
8 All attempts at close shaving the swarI should
be avoided, while using the scythe, and IN guagln
moving machines, care should be taken to run then
so high that they will not cut the Timothy below tn
second joint above the tuber.
| have frequently during the past autumn Pullet
I'd the dubious roots of Timothy. from the sJubbl
from which heavy crop had been cut with tn
scythe while in flower, for the purpose Of studyiu
the changes which taking place in these tuDer,
and have found them very much as described above
not only on moist, damp soils, bat also soils con
parauvely dry. Any farmer can satisfy himself q
the correctness of these representations by httl
observation on his GIVE field; and the point is
practical importance, it is worthy Of careful after
ton.
The facts above alluded to have fallen under tn
observation of a practical farmer Of Niddlese
county who says: The proper time 70 cut Herds
grass or Timothy, is after the seed is formed and
! full in the milk Il Will then give about twent
| per cent. more weight than when 1t Is just comm
into the blossom and the cattle will eat twenty pc
cent. less and keep on their flesh. And 1 prete
also 70 cut it at that stage OF its growth the az
count of the root being better able to withs tand tn
drouth 1t should be cut four inches from tn
ground as most of the Timothy is killed by mOwin
} close and early before it has come TO maturity.
have kept Timothy thick AID strong in the last 81
years BY following this method. have noted tina
most of it has died out by twi ice close an
early moving before the grass has come to matur
tv; ii 1t is dry weather it is die when so CT
e / lost whole field Of it by moving too close an
early and | consider the four inches at the bottoI
:, of coarse Timothy OF little value
i II the seed Is allowed to ripen it eXhausts IN
: soil far more than Il cut in the blossom.