Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-09-17
agricultural.
Colorado Grasses.

The most esteemed grass. on the plains
are the Buff 10 grass. the Mesquit or Game
grass OF the West BOutelona) and the Bunct.
grass Nearer the mDuntalus there Is, in ad-
dtIon to the MeSquit, kind Of grass which
has the local me of /" blue grass, and ar
other called O. blue JOINT" both OF which
are very nutritious and are highly es
tened.
Mr. Store of Peu'l 10, whom we met Oh
the way to Colorado Springs assured us thai
timothy, red-top and clover, We're indigenous
to the country and that large patcnes
these were found growing wild in the canons
and parks IL is true, in our subs OUT nj
journeys in the canODs, we saw patches o.
timothy grass in growth, ana We saw 1t grow
ing above W ilson's near Bergen Park, but We
were not satisfied that this grass is indIgen-
Gus, but suspect that wherever 1t Is louDO
growing without cultivation. if indet d II
does so grow, the seeds must have been id
troduced by teamsters IN travelling over The
mountains.
Red-top grows with great vigOr and yields
enormous crops both in Colorado and Utah,
especially ON irrigated grounds, and 1t Is ID
curious TACT, at least curious to US, that the>t
alkiline soils seem particularly well adapteo
to the growth and perfection OF this grass.
At Salt Lake we saw very heavy crops OF
Red-top on the lower benches OF land with
out any special irrigation, though the liant
received moisture from the waste water used
in the culture of crops on higher land. In
the instance referred to, the lands had never
been broken up, but Red-tOp seed had simply
been scattered ON the surface OF the ground
in it's natural state, and yet it had taken root
and was yielding enormous crops. The Nor
H.. Il,
especially adapted to the growth of Red-top,
and the crops which we saw seemed to prove
that statement.
The native grasses Of Colorado, whether on
the plains or at the foot of the mountains,
are very nutritious. This is prove by the
sleek, thrifty condition of the numerous
herds feeding upon her natural pastures.
The testimony of every stock-man and
farmer of whom we il quired, and they wert
numerous, was, that the native grasses were
more nutritious and better rellshed by stock
than the cultivated grasses of the east. NJ Ell
OF undoubted integrity, who were brought
up farmers IN New York, Pennsy yanla and
the New England States, and who had beel
living IN Colorado for some time engaged IL
cattle raising and other kinis OF farming
all seemed to agree upon this question. Som,
farmers who Were raising the cultivated
grasses, asserted that they had repeated J
trIed the experiment OF pacing the timotb,
and other cultivated grassts. nicely cured
into hay before cattle, and, at the Same time
hay made from the native grasses, and the
beasts invariably would take to tnas maGt
from the native herbas frst.
The grass on the pans grow sparsely anC
does DOT form that tnIck, soiii turf, as IN til,
pastures oil New York and New England
and 1t is hard for an eastern farmer on hi.
first view of the Plans, to reconcile the ides
of these grasses, In many places, brown anu
crisp, afording good pasturage tor stock
And yet all the Cattle which be meets ioob
sleek, tn ty and lat, and the beet furnished
at table is tender, juicy and delicious. L. /.
true the herds at present have Immens
ranges. Sui, atter July Weighing all til,
facts, one gradually comes to tie conviction
that the natural grasses OF Co OIado ar,
more than ordinarily nutritious as catIl'
TODD.