Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-15

Orchard GrRss
Mr. F. G. Skinner, the agricultural edi.
tor Of the Tof Field and Farm, says he
does not know that be can add anything
Of value 10 the following article in regard
to orchard grass, copied from Charles l.
Hints work on grasses, unless il be to
add has personal testimony to the yalus
of the orchard grass Wherever labor
IL scarce and promietors wish to hold on
10 their lands, the manifest policy is to
get AS much Of it in permanent moving
or pasture as possible and for this pur
pose, he is satisfied, from years of expe-
rience in Rappahannock, Va, that in
that climate the orchard affords the ear
Hest and latest bite, and is the hardest of
al the grasses. Whatever is adapted to
the climate of Virginia is equally 80 to
that of Tennessee The following are
Mr. Flints views on the orchard grass:
This is one Of the most valuable and
widely-known Of all the pasture grasses.
Il is common 10 every country in Europe,
10 the north of Africa, and 10 Asia, as well
AZ to America. Its culture was introduced
into England from Virginia, where it had
been cultivated some years previously, in
l7G4. Ii forms one Of she most common
grasses of English natural pastures, on
rich, deep, moist soils. Ii became, soon
after its Introduction into England an
object Of special agricultural interest
among cattle-feeders, having been found to
he exceedingly palatable TO stock Of all
kinds. It's rapidly Of growth, the luxuri-
snce Of its aftermath, and its power of
enduring the cropping Of cattle, com
mend il highly TO the farmers care 7speci-
ally a. n pasture grass.
AS il blossoms earlier than timothy,
and about the-iime Of red clover, il makes
an admirable mixture with that plant, 60
cut in the blossom and cure for hay. Asa
pasture grass il should he fed close, both 10
prevent Is forming thicl, tufts, and 10 pre-
vent its running to seed, when L loses a
large proportion Of its hutritiye matter, and
hecomes hard and wiry. All kinds Of stock
eat il greedily when green.
Judge Buel said of it, i should prefer
il 10 almost every other grass, and COWS are
very fond of it, Elsewhere he saya
American cocks foot, or orchard grass, Is
one Of the most abiding grasses We have.
IL lie probably better adapted than any
other grass 10 SOW with clover and other
seeds for permanent pasture OF for hay, az
il is iit TO cut with clover, and grows re-
markedly quick when cropped by cattle.
Five OF ak dave growth in summer sufiiees
20 give n good bite. It's good properties
consist in its early aud rapid growth, and
its resistance Of drouth but all agree that
IL should be closely cropped. Sheep will
pass over every other grass to feed upon it.
lf suffered TO grow long without being
cropped, 1t becomes coarse and harsh.
Colonel Powell Ia late eminent farmer Of
Pennsylvania after growing it ten years,
declares that il produces more pasturage
than ANY other grass he has seen ia Ameri-
ca. On being fed very close, it has pre-
duced good pasture, amer remaining i've
DAYS at rest. Ii Is suited 10 all arabic
soils. Two bushels Of seed are requisite
for Nm acre when sown alone, or half this
quantity when sown with clover The
seed is very light, weighing not more than
twelve OF fourteen pounds 10 the hushel.
IL should be cut early for hay
Mr. Sanders, a weli-knoWn practical
farmer and cattle breeder of Kentucky,
SAYS of 10 Ny observation and experience
have induced me TO rely mainly on orchard
pras- and red clover indeed, now SOW
no other sort OF grass seed. These grasses,
mixed, make the best hay of all the grasses
Cor this climate (Kenhcky.) Il is nutri-
tious. and we'll adapted as food for stock
Orchard grass is ready for grazing in tie
spring ten or twelve days sooner than any
other that affords a full bite. When grazed
down and the stock turned OF, il will be
ready for re grazing in less than half the
time required for Kentucky blue grass IL
stands a severe droulh better than any
other grass, keeping green and growing
when other sorts are driednp. In summer
il will grow more in a day than blue grass
will ia week. Orchard grass is naturally
disposed 10 form and grow in tussocks
The best preventive is a good preparation
Of the ground, and a euthciency of seed
uniformly sown'
Orchard grass is less exhausting 90 the
soil than rye grass or timothy. IL will
endure considerable shade. In a porous
silbsoil its fihrous roots extend 10 a great
depth. les habits of growth units il for 3
lawn grass Us seeds weigh twelve pounds
10 the bushel and 20 SOW alone, about
.twenty-fo pounds 90 the acre are required
10 Elake sure Of good crop. Il should
not be soWn alone, except for the sake OF
raising the seed II is worthy Of q much
more extended cultivation among us "