The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-05-21
Grasses and their Management.

Here I come, creeping, creeping every
where;
BY the dusty roadside, on the sunny hill
side,
Close by the noisy brock in every shady
nook,
| come creeping, creeping every where
MRS. SARAH ROBERTS.
The cultivation of different kinds of
grasses for agricultural purposes, is con-
sideration of eminent Importance; and every
farmer should make himself familiar with
grasses, as it is quite as important to know
hew to grow a good crop Of grass, as a
crop Of grain. And sometimes it requires
the exercise OF more science, skill and judi
cious management to grow remunerating
crop OF grass on some kinds OF soil, than
for a fair crop of grain.
The true OF natural grasses are described
by botanists as plants with long, simple,
narrow leaves, in two alternate rows, each
leaf having many fine veins or lines running
parallel with central prominent vein or
mid-rib, and a long sheath divided at the
base, which seems to clasp the stem, or
through which the stem passes; the stem,
with very few exceptions being hollow and
closed at the nodes OF joints. This des-
cribes Indian corn, wheat, rye, oats. barley,
m;llet, all of which belong to the grass
family The artificial grasses are cultiva-
ted and used like grasses, but do not belong
| to that family, among which are clover.
lucerne. and sainfoin; these belong to the
pulse family, and are designated as legu-
minous plants.
l have intimated that the grasses are
patient under abuse, and get 4 deal of it,
No other crop will better reward good cul-
f,rn Ia tl,iu her ut bcr
crops will do nothing; and manure and
good cultivation meets with as favorable
returns when bestowed upon grass as upon
other crops. Few crops will bear as high
manuring as grass.
Farmers should acquire knowledge of
grasses, their individual peculiarities, adap-
taton to different soils, climates and cir
cumstances, and their relative value for
different kinds of farm stock. New kinds
of grasses should be cultivated on a small
scale, for the purpose of ascertaining their
value for pasture or hay. The seed of all
kinds of grass, to which l have alluded,
may be obtained in most of our cities at
seed stores; and some persons often send
hundreds Of miles distant for new kinds of
| seed that may be procured III their own
country.
In many old pastures in the New Eng
land States, in some of the dairy counties
of New y ork, and some other States, there
are several varieties of what farmers call
natural grasses, that afford sweet and nu-
tritious feed for neat cattle and sheep.
yielding also the best qualities Of milk and
butter These grasses form rich turf COW
ering the entire ground. Many farmers in
our dairy regions, esteem these natural
grasses very highly; and contend that it is
impracticable to obtain so good butter and
cheese from grass growing on recently
seeded ground, rs from the Oldest meadows
and pastures. In some old meadows may
be found sometimes, five or six different
kinds of good grass. The faverite grasses
used for re-seeding by most farmers. are
timothy, orchard grass, Kentucky blue
grass, the clevers and red-top.
In re-seeding, some attention will he
needed to have a greater variety of grasses
than is commonly employed for putting
down pasture and meadow lands 1t has
been shown that in rich Old natural pas
lures, from twelve to twenty distinct spe
cies are found in the sod: and that the
number of plants to the square foet is
greater when there are several kinks inter-
mixed.-S. E. T., in Working Farmer.