The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-10-30

The great variety Of grasses, both per
ennial and annual, which abound 'ilio
out the Northern States upon 'ii0
which are adapted TO their growth iiiaAts
- oI,,oet needless TO recommend to lar
90 COW a variety Of seed. But there
,,o+ a few localities, often tracts Of
vast extent, as in parts Of New Jersey
and Long Island, and increasing IS We
20 southwark, where but few grasses
grow naturally and all the better kinds
need encouragement. Besides, as soon
as lands begin to wear, that Is TO grow
poor III certain conditions Of fertility,
some natural grasses are sure TO disap-
pear. The remarks of the editor Of the
Rural Sun, published at Nashville, may
well therefore be read and needed by
farmers all over the country. He writes:
''Of the Importance Of grass in every
wise system of farming We have spoken
often. and shall do so again as occasion
offers or the spirit moves us. Taking
this point as established, we wish TO call
attention to the use of a variety of grass
es in all lands to be laid down to per1na-
nent pasture. We are satisfied that this
is a weak point in the practice of our
very best grass farmers. They rely too
exclusively upon two or three grasses, in
most cases upon one alone. This practice
is contrary to the dictates of reason and
the teachings of experience. There are
over two hundred known species OF
grasses in the United States, and is is
very strange indeed if out of this great
number only two, three ora half a dozen
should include all that are valuable for
pasture CT meadows. 1t may be quite
true that there are no other two that are
equal to blue grass and orchard grass,
hut we cannot believe that there are not
Others that are less valuable than these.
In this opinion we are supported by all
the best writers on grasses and grass,
culture, and which is of more value, in
our estimation, by the uniform testiJno,
ny of the most experienced grass farmers
of this and other lands.
While it is the business of art 10 i'm
prove on nature, this improvement can
only be secured by following the teach
ings of nature. And in no point is more
positive than in teaching that variety
of grsses is essential to a close heavy soil.
Where the land is barren and thin, 1t
may be that only three or four species
may be found, but wherever the soil Is
fit for farmers use, there nature is sure
to sow a great variety of grasses. As a
general rule, the richer the soil the
greater the number Of species.
But the teachings of experience are
still more emphatic in favor of a mkt
ure of grasses. 1t has been demonstrate
ed by frequent experiments that in pas
ture land a mixture of several varieties
will produce a larger amount OF hesh
and faI-forming food than the same land
will yield when sown with only one
or two varieties. Especially is this diff
ference marked in the case where land
is to be kept in pasture for series ot
years. The main cause Of this differ
ence lies in the fact that if we sow but
one kind of grass, it matters not how
thickly we sow, there are sure to be va
cant places, spots of greater or les
breadth, on which, from some cause ol
other, no plants have grown. On the
other hand, when several varieties are
used the entire surface is occupied, and
a better as well as a larger result is oh
tanned
Another important advantage in using
variety of grasses arises from the fact
that different varieties ripen at different
periods, possess very different habits oi
growth and yield nutriments of differ.
ent qualities and kinds. These facts
should be attended to in selecting the
varieties to be sown. 4 succession is
essential to permanence, while a variety
adds much to the feeding value of pas
ures.-RuraE NecO Yorker.