Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-16
BLUE GRASS AND ORCHARD

GRASS. -
The following letter, from one of the
most extensive stock raisers in the Blue
Grass region of Kentucky, will be read
with interest by all who wish to try the
experiment of seeding their woodlands
to grass:
To the Editors of the Union and American:
DANvILLE, KY, March l, 1871
Blue grass is indigenous to this part of
Kentucky, ard sprung up and took pos
session of our woodlands as fast as they
were sufficiently thinned out As its
value began to be appreciated as grazing
grass for all seasons, our wisest farmers
(of whom my father was one, having
settled here at an early day, and grew
up with the country not seiDg fit
to wait the slow process of thinning
out the forests by culling off firewood,
rail timber, ETC., set about and thinned
out these forests by cutting all of the least
valuable timber, cleared up the old logs and
cleared away the underground, preparatory
to sowing. From this you will perceive,
that even in this part of Kentucky, 9
thick forest was not favorable to its
growth, and l should think in your State
the thinner the forests the better.
As TO the character of timber that in
dicstes the best land for the growth of
blue grass, we have found oak land the
least favorable; but it grows well even on
oak land, if the trees are not too thick.
The oak has such an abundant crop of
leaves that it affects blue grass two ways:
First, by its shade. Second, when the
leaves fall they seem to be longer in de-
caying than the leaves from other trees;
besides SO cover the ground as to
smother out the grass. Thin out your
timber, clean up well, burning logs,
leaves, etc. You can make rake SINH
lar 10 IN old style cornstalk rake, hitch a
horse to it, and thus clear off trash very
fast. When the ground is prepared, take
equal quantities of blue grass and timothy
seed, and, say TO bushel of blue grass
and timothy seed, add about five bushels
of half moist dirt or lesched ashes, mix
ing thoroughly by rubbing with the
hands. This is necessary to enable you
to get an even SET, and to prevent vast
ing seed. The blue grass seed, you know,
has kind of fuz, and sticks together so
that they cannot be s0wn with any regu
lsrity without first preparing them in the
manner above indicated. The next thing
is TO mark off with the stock of shovel
plow and SOW, following with a
harrow or brush The early spring is
the best time to SOW; after this at
The setting in of fall. Il sown in the
fall, if half bushel of rye is added to
the acre, will guarantee fine winter
and spring pasture.
You aOiU never get q sod until !yoltT
ground becomes trdn1Oed, and for this
reason winter and spring grazing is of
advantage. l have said enough on the
subject of blue grass to give you, think,
clear idea how to proceed in the matter.
4 word as to another grass, viz:
ORCHARD GRASS.
Many of our best farmers owning blue
grass farms are beginning TO esteem this
better grass for grazing-indeed, for all
purposes-than blue grass. Its name i'm.
plies that it grows well in the shade, but
many, myself among the number, are
sowing it in our open lands. 1t is 8
bunch grass, like timothy, and needs
to be sown very thick to obtain sod,
but when once set does not need to be
resolved. My judgment is that this grass
would suit your country better, perhaps,
than blue grass. AZ any rate, l would
advise your farmers to try it. You will
perceive by the quotations in the papers
that the seed are ruling quite high. Your
farmers might SOW four or five acres in
the spring, so as to raise seed. 1t will
bring seed the second year and ought tc
bring from fifteen to twenty bushels pei
acre. l have such faith in it that be-
ieve it win pay sown with clover, ever
though it be allowed to stand for only
two or three years. am arranging to
put every foot of tillable land have, in
orchard grass; and if had it well set
another pillow should never go into it. By
all means persuade your farmers to try
orchard grass, as well as the othel
grasses. ! eau see no reason why you
country ought not to grow grass well. L