Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-04-29
Orchard Gras, For Pasture.

Chas. L. Flint, in his work on Grasses,
says of Orchard Grass (Dactylis glom-
cfato:)
This is one of the most valuable and
widely-known Of all the pasture grasses
It is common to every country in Europe,
to The north OF Africa, aud to Asia, as
well as to America. It's culture was in
troduced into England from Virginia.
wLere it mad been cultivated sonic years
previously. in 1854. 1t forms one of the
most common grasses Of English natural
pastures, "il rich, deep, moist suiis. 1t
became, soon after its Introduction into
England, an object Of special agricultural
interes; Among cattle feeders, having been
found to be exceedingly pala'able TO
stool; of all kinds lis rapdity of growth,
The l.iyuri,ncc ut lis aftermath. and its
wer."i enduring the cropping of cattle,
commend it highly i" ;he farmers care.
especially ~ :: pasture grass.
AS it blossom, earlier than Timothy.
;,,i,i ;,hna; ihc time u red clover, it makes
an a.Iuir..!,ln MIXTURE with that plant, to
cug in the i5sson, and care for hay. As
Il pasture grass it should he fed close, both
10 prevent It's forming thick tufts, and TO
prevent its running to seed, when it loses
:, large proportion o! its nutri;ive matter,
and becomes hard and wiry. All kinds
Of stock cat it grccdiiy when green.
Judge I;ucl said Of it: i should pre-
fer it to almost every other grass, and
COWS arc very fond OF it. Elsewhere he
says: The American Cock foot, or
Orchard grass, is one oi the most abiding
grasses we have. 1t is probably better
adapted than amy other grass, to SOW with
clover and other seeds for permanent pas
turc, or for hay. as it is 1T to cut with
clover, and grows remarkably quick when
cropped by cattle Five or six days,
growth in summer sufiices to give a good
bite Its good properties consist in its
early and rapid growth, and its resistance
oi drought; bu; all agree that it should
be closely cropped. Sheep will pass
over every othc: grass 70 feed upon it.
il suffered TO grow long without being
cropped. it becomes coarse and harsh.
Coloncl Powell 4. 't;c eminent farmer oi
Pennsylvania after growing it ten years.
declares that it produces more pastnrage
than any other grass he has seen III Amer
ica. On being fed very close, it has pro-
duccd gond pasture, after remaining hvc
days at rest. 1t is suited to all arabic
soi;. Two bushels of seed are requisite
for an acre when sown alone. or half this
quantity, when sown with clover. The
seed is very light, weighing not more than
Twelve or fourteen pounds to the bushel.
Ii should be cut early for hay"
Mr.. Sanders, u wel!-known practical
farmer and cattle breeder Of Kentucky.
says of il: Ny observation and expert
cnce have induced me to rely mainly on
orchard grass and red clover; indeed, !
now SOW no other sort of grass seed
These grasses, mixed, make the best hay
OF NIL the grasses for this climate Ken
tucky.) 1t is nutritious and well adapted
rs food for stock Orchard grass is ready
for grazing in the spring, ten or twelve
iidNS SDDsit' t'iii "'iy otiSi 'H''I "'i'i "' '
in! bite. When grazcl down and the
stock turned of, it will be ready for nc
grazing in less than half the time required
for Kentucky blue grass. 1t stands IA
selcre drought better than any other
grass, keeping green and growing when
other sorts are dried up. In summer it
will grow. more in q day than bl.a grass
will in a week. Orchard grass is natu-
rally disposed to form and grow in tus.
socks. The best preventive is a good
preparation of the ground, and suiicien-
cy of seed uniformly sown.'
Orchard grass is less exhausting to the
soil than rye grass or Timothy. 1t will
endure considerable shade, in porous
sub,oil its fibrous roots extend to q great
depth. Its habit of growth units it for
lava grass. It's seed weighs twelve pounds
to the bdshel, and. to SOW alone, about
twcnty.lour pounds to the acre are re.
ouired to make sure of n good crop. 1t
should not. be sown alone, except for the
sake ofIrasing the seed 1t is worthy
of il much more extended cultivation
among US. Ns
THE great secret of rural economy is
TO utiiizs everything g:-corn-stalks, blades,
cobS. everything. Every nail should be
nicked up, every leaf should 60 to the