Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-07-22
Farmers Department.
When to Cut Timothy Grass.

We find DR.. Krtland's contribution to
Mr. Flint'o book on Grasses and Forage
Plants very appropriately quoted at this ,
time by the Prairie Farmer Of the 4th,
and as it will be read with peculiar inter-
est just now, We give the following OBJ.
servations and conclusions of DR.. Kirt.
land, at the same time commencing them
to the thoughtful consider alton Of the rea-
der -
"Fimothy grass is perennial plant,
which renews itself by annual formation
Of bulbs, or perhaps more correctly speak
ing, tubers, 10 which the vitality of the
plant is concentrated during the wintcr.-
These form in whatever locality the plant
is selected, without reference to dryness or
moisture. From these proceed the stalks
which support the leaves and head, and
from the same source spread out the nu-
merous fbres forming the true roots,
2. To ensure perfect developement of
tubers, certain amount of nutrition must
be assimilated in the leaves, and returned
to the base Of the plant, through the
stalks.
8. As soon as the process OF nutrition
is completed, it becomes manifest by the
appearance of a state Of desiccation, or
dryness, always commencing at point
directly above either the first or second
joint Of the stem near the crown of the
tuber. From this point this desiccation
gradually progresses upwards, and the
last portion of the stalk that yields up its
freshness is that adjoining the head, Coin
cident with the beginning of this process,
is the full developemen! of the seeds, and
with its progress the mature. Its earliest
appearance is evidence that both the tu-
bers and seeds have received their requi-
site supplies of nutrition, and that neither
the stalk nor the leaves are longer necess-
ary to aid them in completing their matur-
ity. A similar process occurs in the uni
on just above the crown OF the bulb ndi-
eating the maturity Of that organ, above
the point where dryness or desiccation had
begun.
a. If the stalk be cut from the tubsrs
before this evidence Of maturity has ap-
peared, the necessary supplies OF nutrition
will be arrested, their proper growth will
cease, and an effort will be made to repair
the injury by sending out small lateral tu-
bers, from which the weak and unhealthy
stalks will proceed at the expense of the
original tabers. All will ultimately per-
ish, either by the droughls of autumn or
the cold of winter.
g. The tubers, together with one or two
Of the lower joints OF the stalk, remain
fresh and green during the winter, if left
to take their natural course, but if, by any
means, this green portion be severed, at
any season Of the year, the result will bO
the death of the plant.
From these five propositions the follow
ing conclusions are drawn:
|. That Timothy grass cannot. under
any circumstances, be adapted for pasture;
as the close nipping Of horses and sheep
is fatal to the tubers, which are also ex
tensively destroyed By swine il allowed to
run in the pasture.
2. That the proper time for moving
Timothy is at any time after the process
e L. II I,
as noted in the third proposition. 1t il
not very essential whether it is performed
a week earlier or later provided it be post
poned till that evidence, of maturity has
become manifest.
3. All attempts at close shaving the
sward should be avoided, while using the
scythe, and 10 gauging moving machines,
care should be taken to run them so high
that they will not cut the Timothy below
the second joint above the tuber.'
Mr.. Flint says ;-"I have frequently,
during the past autumn, pulled up the bull
bous roots of timothy from the stubblc
from which heavy crop can be cut with
the scythe, while in flower, for the pur-
pose of studying the changes which were
taking place in in these tubers, and have
found them very similar to those repre-,
sentod in the Sd and 4th propositions, not
only OIL moist, damp soils, but also on
soils comparatively dry, Any farmer
can satisfy himself of the correctness OF
these Representations by little observa
ton in his own fields and as the point
is of practical importance, it is worthy OF
careful attention.-BoStOa CuhiUQtor.