Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-02-22
MEETING OF THE STATE BOARD OF
AGRICULTURE,

QCul.
Chester w. Thomas, Secretary.
Remarks by Hon. j. W. Hartshorn.
He said that we were glad to well
come the Board of Agriculture.
Though Essex Co. is small, we are in
terested in Agriculture, and some
good farmers live in the county. In
manufactures we have little interest,
except in the manufacture of lumber,
but the land is valuable for farming
purposes and all at least should de-
sire improvement. One great fault
of our farming was in his opinion, the
fault of changing often from sheep
to COWS, and from oats to potatoes,
and back again. That they should
in reality raise such crops as they
could best produce.
Mr.. u. f. Jameson was intro
duced and gave his lecture upon
grasses, as the other members Of the
board were not present. He re-
marked that in most countries there
was grass of some kind, even in des-
erts are now and then punches Of
grass. In extreme northern countries
it is small and short, and is fine, some
animals, like the Reindeer, did not re-
quire much of it. In the United
States in 1870, 600,OO0,000 (mil-
lions) of tons, six millions in
Maine, but in Texas, not any. 1t
was the northern States that gathered
most of the hay.
There is not as many varieties cul-
tivated as should be. yet there are
many native kinds. lie had found
on his meadow thirty different kinds
of g:ass, yet few were cultivated.
When people seeded down thei"
lands, they much to their disadvan-
tage, sowed the inevitable clover and
herds grass. They were not fitted
for all lands, and the native varieties
soon gained fo0thold. If these
grasses are good why not save them.
Herds grass was good for some
land, was first brought to notice by
Timothy Herd, and so was called by
some Herds grass and by others
Timothy grass. Red top is hardy
good grass and should require atten-
ton. Fowl meadow grass Though
perhaps not as good as some others,
yet it has the advantage of always
being green. 1t can be cut almost
any time from June to October.
and always be nutritious and green.
1t is called fowl meadow, as it was
discovered in meadow which was
= much frequented by water fowls, not
because it was foul grass.
Blue joint is good, but not as gooG
as the Fowl Meadow. Blue grass is
a good pasture grass, should be USED
for pasture grass on all rich, mois
soils. 1t makes grand hay, but re
quires much drying, as it is very
fine.
Orchard grass, is a rapid grower
good for pasture and hay, it SHOULD
be raised extensively. 1t will in pas
;, ture land support one COW to TIN
acre. No other grass will do it, ant
common grass frequently requires tel
for COW in pasture. Quack gras
s cannot be killed. If you raise othe
), crops, you do not need sown sect
q after the first time, the roots canno
It be destroyed. 1t is also calle
i switch grass" and tits plague to til
S farmer, yet makes good hay, as cattl
n and horses will do more work on
v without grain than on any other.
It Sweet grass though priced by som
1t for the oder, is Of no special value
e The most. valuable grasses have n
: perfume, neither has corn or othe
grain, but it is pleasant to us, it ma
IS be used, but is less nutritious.
Il AS ergot which is poi sonous to ca
% tie is formed in the heads of som
e grasses, it is desirable to cut early
especially all meadow grasses. Th
II poison causes diseases of the feet an
. sometimes tumors, and other ba
Il effects.
Clovers, though not scientiicall
=, classed with grasses, are usually S
- classed by farmers. There are thrC
common varieties, all valuable
Clover roots sink deep into the SC
and bring up valuable plant food, an
~ If plowed in, much enrclres IL
III ground. 1t is also valuable for Ia
. but does not long hold out as crC