Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-02
FARM AND GARDEN.
ORCHARD GRASS.


During the past ten years this gras
has grown 30 rapidly into public favo
that seed dealers have found it im2ossibl
TO supply, at a reasonable price, III
great demand for seed. We find farmer
in every part of the state laying aside tn
older and, heretofore popular grasses an
taking up with this new candidate fo
popular favor. Extravagant as are som
of the statements in regard to it
superiority over other grasses W
are disposed to credit them. No one ha
ever been disappointed in it who ha
given it a fair trial. lis hardness, grea'
yield, duration, and early as well as lat
growth; its excellence as hay grass, it
power to resist grazing, its quick growtl
and many other admirable qualities, no
the least Of which is its fertilizing prop
critics, certainly are sufficient to induce ou
farmers to go largely into it. The follow
ing paper from the New York Tribune
written by L. F. Allen, of Black Rock
New York, though long, will well repay
perusGl. 1t is the most exhaustive anC
instructive article we have ever read OF
orchard grass. We will state that WI
have known it grown successfully in lat
itude So deg. 80 min.
RoUGHHEAD ooOKsFooT (DactiLis Glonl.
erdtG.)
This valuable variety Of forage, a ma
tive of the United States, is one Of the
least known in its valuable qualities, and
one of the least cultivated of the many
valuable grasses which our American soil
produce. 1t grows in full luxuriance on
appropriate soils anywhere between 81
deg. and AZ deg. north latitude, and on
all soils moderately dry, embracing the
varieties between q sandy loan and g
stiff clay-provided, however, the soil
be in a fair state of fertility. 1t does not
kindly take 10 a lean or sterile soil, but
with only moderate fertilzing of the
common kind, furnished by the farm
yard and stables, it grows apace, and
yields bouuteOus crops throughout the
season, either for soiling, hay, or pastur-
age, and, unlike most other grasses,
grows under the shade of trees.
We have grown this grass constantly
not in large quantities, to be sure-for
the last thirty years, and know lis value
for the various purposes we have men
toned; but for soiling stock in the sum
mer season we consider its qualities the
most eminent. A few of its qualities will
be stated:
l. 1t starts early in the spring, with a
broad, oat-like leaf, growing rapidly, and
arriving at its highest condition of excel
lence when in early bloom, which is
about the time of the blOssoming of the
common red clover, and if made into hay,
fit to cut at the same time. Yet for soil,
ing purposes, it may be cut some days,
or even some weeks earlier. 1t is
better, however, for the full amount OF
nutriment it will afford, to wait until
the floweris fairly developed. Its qualities
are sweet, nutritious, abundant in prOduC
ton, tall as ordinary oats in growth,
and heavy burden TO the area on which
it is produced. If suffered to stand LONG
enough to mature its seed, the stalk i5ol
becomes hardy, harsh and unpalatable e
stock; therefore it must be cut before i
arrives at its seed-ripening condition, 3!
is the case with most other grasses fo,
dry forage purposes No grass which
we have ever grown has yielded SO heayy
q swath as this, nor one from which 81
much cattle food TO the acre can be grown
aside from Lucerne or Trefoii, which GU
American climates will not COnsecutively
year after year.. produce. No grass, no
even red clover, springs upso rapidly sfte
cutting as this. We have known it il
showery weather start fully three inche
within q week after cutting, and 50 con
tinue for repeated cuttings throughout tn,
season, retaining its verdure into the las
frosts, and then affording q pasturag
sweet and nutritious, inviting TO all kind
of farm stock Inclined TO grazing.
2. As hay, its quality is good, whel
cut In its early flower, but inferior whel
gone to seed, attaining then woody fiber
as before remarked, yet, when cut anC
steamed, equal in nutritious quality t
other late cut grasses. The steaming o
cooking process reduces its fibrous stall
to a comparative pulp, rendering it palat
able to the taste of animals, and COngen
ial to the action of the stomach fol nuui
tious uses. As hay, it cures readily; it
long growth renders it easy to rake ant
handle; it stores compsctly in either STAG
or NOV; cuts easily with the hay-knif
in the NOW when fed dry in winter, an
is every way as convenient long fodde
as any other. Such are its qualities 70
hay.
8. As soiling stock through the sum
mer months is now coming rapidly int
practice, We can DO no batter service Il
the farner-mOre particularly to tn
dairyman--than to recommend the Oh
chard grass for that purpose; and for tn
following reasons 1t is early. It grow
continuously throughout the summer an
fall seasons. It is permanent in its oC
cupation of the soil, having q stronl
flbrous root; maintains its hold in clumps
or tussocks, against any and all Othe
grasses, even the blue grass-whicl
crowds out almost every Other-makin
no inroads on its possession when opc
fairly rooted. We have field of it, o.
a strong clayey loan, which has stood 70
more than thirty years. 1t has been Gu
for soiling; it has been cut for hay; it hs
been pastured; it was first sown with re-
clover ard timothy, which it long ag
run out, aud, although the white Glove
and blue grass venture their presence t
limited extent among il, the orchar
grass retains its supremacy, and, breast
high al maturity, lords it over its diminu
tive trespassers ia a bounteous crop, Will
hmm 1o otfnvIavfe rrnnl in fhoi
place, mOdestly fill up great, nutrition
underground at the bottom.
1t has been objected to the orchar
grass that it grows too much in stools, Q
tuSsOckS. If 1t has fault, that is on
of them; but full seeding will measurl
bly, remedy that. 1t does not stool g
spread so universally as the blue grass, G
perhaps some others; but it forms strou
compact root, and that root it holds firm
ly, enduringly, aud if given modera'
amount of fertilizing matter, Its roots f
the surface, and they there stay, yieldin
10 nothing but the utmost abuse by II
treadiDg out in spring by heavy cattle
which should never be allowed on an
grasses-or the plow itself.
Although we had grown this grass
small quantity for year or two previou
early ia juno, 1912, on brief visit
the farm of Mr.. George Patterson, ne'
sykesyille, Nd, about 80 miles west :
baltimore, we saw il in its full perfectiC
NJ sonae Of his large fields, and witne9se
4 yaii.e both as soiling, hay and ps
tu1. crop. Mr. Patterson had, some d
zen .esus or more anterior to that tim
come fso possession of WORKOUT ira
of landfdaryland was then full of sue
of about l'vNl acres. 1t was literal
worthless ajSsgsther worn out with e