Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-02

bscco--in fact, abandoned, withou
fences, retaining only some patches o.
scattering woods a few dilapidate(
buildings, and pretty much uninhsbitablt
TO any man of thrift, or without abund
ant capital to restore tito productive con
dition. But Mr.. Patterson was 6
man of brains, education, and
taste. He had, withal, the means tC
raise the farm to fertility and production.
When he took possession of it there was
not strength enough left in the soil to
even bear q covering of stunted grass,
little but sorrel, worthless sedge-grass,
and creeping vine-weeds running over it.
Having secured some large sized fields in
this manner, he built a large limekiln
near Sykesville, close by the railway sta
ton, some mile or so from his farm, and
bought limestone quarry few miles
further out, and began burning lime
wherewith to fertilize his farm. This
article he spread abundantly over his in
closed fields, at the rate of so to 100
bushels per acre. That process killed
out the noXious acids in the soil, sweet
ened and warmed it for the reception Of
seed-for it was a dry, friable loan -
plowed it sowed it in oats and
red clover, when it began to
bear at first scanty crop. The clover
when grown, the succeeding year after
seeding, was plowed in and followed by
wheat and other grains. Grass to some
extent followed, and he then brought
upon the place fine herd of Devon cat
tie, the originals of which his father, d
long distinguished and wealthy merchant
in Baltimore, had many years before i'm
ported. These the Mr.. Patterson of whom
we are speaking kept in large numbers on
his farm until his death, some two or
three years ago. Using what cattle ma
nure the farm produced, with continuous
applications of lime and gypsum-the
latter of which he used to Some extent
he added field to field from the barren
waste around him, until, when we visited
the farm, he had some l, 200 acres in fine
cultivation, and intended pursuing that
course until the entire tract should be
brought into profitable culture
It was on this farm that we first saw
the orchard grass in its full luxuriance
and glory. There were large fields of it
for soiling, hay aud pasture. Mr. Pat
tersOn told US that, in his estimation,
there was no grass like it. Clover was
good; timothy was good; but the or
chard grass was superior to both. We
recollec. one field in particular. which,
in company with MIN, we visited. 1t was
along the boundary line of his farm, and
over the fence was a tract of outlying,
abandoned soil, just like bis own, and he
remarked, when he he took possession of
Thrown as rust, scarcely bearing null
Inns, and scarcely spire of grass upon it.
On his own side was fertility in its
Astounding orchard grass; on the other
side was sterility and starvation. "There,"
said Mr.. Patterson, exultingly, 'see the
difference. This is the result of lime,
gypsum and cultivation; that of continu-
Gus cropping, neglect and ignorance. Or
iginally the soils were alike, and that over
the fence, with like treatment, may be-
come as good as minen
To return from this episode, proving
it to be hardy, adapted to all varieties of
soil which yield the ordinary cultivated
crops of our northern temperate attitudes,
easy of cultivation, and profitable in use,
we confidently recommend the orchard
grass to the attention of our farmers. 1t
requires no different method of seeding
their clover and timothy, or the other va
rieties Of grass. 1t may be put in white
oats, barley or wheat in the spring of the
year, or sowed by itself on well pull
verified ground without the seeds of any
other crop. The seed itself is light and
chGfy, weighing fourteen to sixteen
pounds to the bushel, should be sowed
in still weather, and lightly brushed
or narrowed in. 1t is not like timo-
thy and the clovers, a compact,
heavy seed which the rains will readily
drive into the ground, and thus dispense
with the brush or harrow. It may also
be mixed with red clover in sowing,
which we think the better plan, thus Civ
ing heavier first crop in hay, and, the
clover gradually going out, as it us ually
does, the orchard grass will take entire
possession of the soil and maintain it for
years, with proper usage.
As with timothy and other grasses, it
should not be pss'ured with heavy ami
mas, as neat cattle or hCrses, until the
second year, when it shall have acquired
q firm sod. After that it may beas safely
and closely pastured as any other grass.
The seed of the orchard grass, from its
absence of general cultivation, is not
found in abundant quantity ct the seed
stores of our towns and cities, and the
price may be dear compared with timo-
thy and the clOvers; yet not so dear as to
prevent the farmer from obtaining it in
sufficient quantity for trial, and from q
small area of ground, to supply his own
wants in seed hereafter. 1t yields boun-
tifully, and when ripe, which is easily
known by its assuming a yellowish color
it may be cut and bound in sheaves like
oats, or moved, cured and thrashed out
like timothy. The entire process of its
cultivation is as simple as any of our or
binary farm grasses.