The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-06-09
Farm, Garden, and Household
Written for the journal.
HOW SHALL WE FARM?

ORCHARD GRASS, This grass Which is consider
"a by most farmers as an unmitigated pest, is
suown under the various names Of ''Witch grass
Dog grass, ""Tall Meadow oat grass and yari-
ol, other local titles. Many farmers have ii upon
their farms TO the great annoyance of hoed crops.
H. tough tibrous strng-ike roots penetrate the
-o in all directions. Potatoes grown on land where
i- exists will be penetrated by its sharp roots
Many farmers have seen its roots penetrating these
ubcrs, and grown TO the length Of several feet be-
nud them. 1t is hard TO be eradicated, and to pro-
'Ive good crops of hay needs rich soil. Where fields
have become infested with IT, il is best to top-iress
ad every spring go over with sharp-toothed har-
.,S a, soon AS the ground will admit, after the
-uuY, is cone. Tearing mp the roots and stirring
inr ground has a good effect upon its after pro-
HuctiNeness. If left alone its numerous roots will
u the soil and become bound by their own action,
ud The crop of hay greatly reduced. Orchard
-s,~, make, quality of hay equal to herds grass
when properly cut and cured. If it is desirable to
.fadiyate spots of this grass in fields gardens or
ihcr places perhaps the best way is to smother IT,,
'l,d i, cover the ground with straw, boards, ma
uurr on dirt 10 the depth sufficient to prevent lis
bearing Out or sending up blades; where 1t has no
hiucc 10 do this in one season il will die of sutfo-
,auiun. 80 to express it, We would not advise the
sowing ol orchard grass except under peculiar
circumstances, and never upon ground lit for culti-
dion or other grasses, and this covers nearly all
l,~r, Of lands Many sow it, being deceived by
.l. high sounding name or fancy title by which it
- 0hcrcd This alone is Il strong inducement for
fImrr, to save their own grass seed and thereby
understand what they are sowing. some have
u.,t led 10 think that from its name it is adapted
fa hr sown in orchards. Whether in years past
r,rrr was any connection of the two am unable
, ,4y, hut from observation should decide that ii
would he the last variety of grass that | should
uea IN orchard with, unless ! did it to choke and
ud uut the trees with
RED nor There are several varieties Of
This excellent grass, some being adopted TO
lash barren hin tops, and some to swmmpy
.,l- wfa various intermediate grades. Wire
-rt~>'' June grass" " Brown top, " Purple
lap' and various other local varieties belong 10
thi- family. Red top makes i good hay, does best
10 moist loamy soils generally tlonrshes side by
d,- with herds grass, and is hardy variety, stand
lo4 the winter we'll and starting early in the spring
u-p furnishing a good fall feed i'll pastures when
lraprry cropped in the early part of the season.
" hen Sown clear it requires about one bnshcl of
,ri per acre. or 10 pounds of clover and three
ryrk~ red top The component mineral parts are
.pry nearly as follows
iuttslt IS Magne5la,i. thos. acid, 8. Silica. 3d.
-Jd4, =. Lime n. Sal. acid, 5. Com. salt: 6.
100 !
i;, referring to the analysis of the other grasses
ut have been given III these papers, some inter-
ling facts can be learned, and one in this line is
barge clement in the principal forage grasses, an
,ther is that ashes, which contain potash, is an |
Nrellent application to moving tieds and Others |
nh he deduced by the enqGirng mind. Our soils
tutee been Welding up their treasures OF mineral |
emenls for years continued cropping has reduced |
their stock Of these and poorer crops are the result
Now if we supply this back again to our lmpoYer-
tshed fields with proper culture, we can reasonably
iolk tor >trh results we once had. If the blood
uu tbr human system becomes reduced and drained
ot its life and health sustaining elements, disease
tll weakness and general pTostralion follow. 50 (
with soiI, if the elements are drained to low
tr poor crops and feeble effects will be produced.
ills are composed of pulyerizcd rocks of all sizes
rum the minutcst possible atom 10 the huge bould-
IT. intersuersrd with more or less decayed Nege-
able matter. This dsintegration OF particles Is sllll
,oing onward, the solid ledge is slowly yielding It's
PARTICLES to the surrounding soil, the boulder grows
smaller each wear, though it lie imperceptbe to
u.s. The minute particles of the SOIL following tins |
general law acted ON by the same forces OF ram
Frost heat cold and the various. mechanical forces
It nature, are trumlling slowly and becoming
inner each year. Now each particle of soil contains
the same elements rs the rock from which 1t was
derived different rocks OF course containing differ
pnt primary elements some contain sulphur, some
nitrc, some potash, some soda, some magnesll, |
some salt, some lime When apply ashes or
lime to the soil, or other fertilizer, its action is
three fold it feeds the plant with its own elements,
it helps to disnegrate the soil and thus free its
mineral parts for plant uses, and it also unites It's
clements with these in the soil, forming other ele
Inents for plant food. Rain permeaes the soil; its
action is two fold wearing or mechanical, SOLVING or
chemical; blowing and working the soil is me-
cAnical the nttrition OF particles upon each other
renders them finer, frost disentegrates by eXpan-
4ou, by attron, by solution, heat by cngenderng
chemieal action, plants by penetrating and by
chemical means. Thus change going on five
Nee to feed our crops. We increase the fertility Of
oar farms in that proportion X.