The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-06


have some fields OF red top and foul
meadow II would be all the better and come
to maturity later in the season. think
most farmers are afraid to try anything
new they are afraid 1t will not do we'll.
In closing, would say, farmers try little
orchard grass, and see how II does. So far
like 1t very well for portion of my crop.
Mr.. Bridge said he noticed orchard grass
on his farm some twenty years ago and
finding that his stock liked it green and dry
he commenced sowing it. He had found It
to be hardy and vigorous grower, standing
the drouth remarkably we'll. He thinks 1t
increases the fertility Of the soil as its roots
run deep and bring up the phosphates. This
also makes it more nutritious. Cows fed
on this hay will make butter almost as yell
low as in summer. Another advantage Is
tho wide leaves which gather nutritious
matter from the atmosphere. A great por-
ton being leaves, which are wide and thin,
It cures more quickly than clover or even
timothy. He thinks the same bulk Of hay
is not quite ms heavy as some other kinds,
yet he looks for n much larger bulk from
the same ground. He has one field that he
has moved ten years, aud nine years he has
cut two crops we r. No top-dressing ha
been applied, consequently he thinks it good
to hold out AS the seed stalks form so
small part he thinks there is not much loss
II 1t stands till the seed is ripe. He has
frequently saved seed and offered it for sale
bnt could find no purchasers. The tenden-
cy Of this grass was to grow in punches.
therefore he sows clover with it which soon
dies out. AS the grass-seed is very light it
should he sown separately, He sows one
half bushel to the acre.
Mr. Lockwood had seen the hay at Mr..
Bridges and liked it. lie sowed piece
without grain and cut two good crops the
same year. also two the year following 1t
needs to be cut early, and he would not adj
wise one to sow his entire farm with this
grass.
ii e Lockwood then read paper on the
cultivation of clover from which we were
only allowed to make extracts. He would
manure well and plant corn; the next year
stock down with barley, sowing twelve
pounds of clover with timothy and red top
lie would seed heavy that the stalks might
be smaller. Harvest when in full bloom
Cut after three o'clock p. N. the second
day cock it while warm. let it stand two or
three days to cure, not dry. Would fill a
whole NOW OF the same time ifpossible and
cover with straw to receive the moisture
that may arise. 1t will come out bright and
dry.
Mr. Bridge considered clover one of the
best OF grasses but very expensive in many
ways. The seed is costly and then it is so
apt to lodge that it is very had to cut then
the trouble of curing properly is great. In
some localities it is sowed to pillow in rs
manure, and he could see no reason why it
would net do well here. l: .owed alone he
would use twelve pounds to the acre, with
other grasses, four pounds On rich ground
job Richmond would seed heavy to OBJ
tain small stalks which will cure more
readily, using from twelve to seventeen
pounds per acre.
Mr. Lockwood said on lands Astounding in
limestone clover would come in without
sowing, hut on lead stone lands it would
not.
Crosby Miller wor asked to give some
general views on farming He said his
custom was entirely different from twelve
years ago. Farmers could not speak con-
fidenty OF anything in farming but from cx-
pcricncc. lie gcts ont no manure in the
spring but lets il remain under cover till
fall when he plows in for corn some SO loads
of 50 bushels each per acre. Flows as deep
as he can, using michigan" pillow, man
ures lightly in the hill to give an carly start,
and is not afraid of getting manure too
uctP iOr tnc rootS 10 Hnu II. JIG averages
10 bushels Of corn to the acre. He could
see no difference in crops between fall and
spring blowing. The matter of deep plow-
ing could not be settled as it depends on the
quality of the soil His soil is the same at
the depth oftwo or three feet as at the top.
lie purchased lot Of land which had been
plowcd lightly and cropped till it would
give 10 grain or grass. lie plowed deep
and sowcd oats seeding il down Tho oats
were badly lodged, having the appearance
of being heavily MANFRED. \ heavy crop
of grass followed. SO much for deep plow-
ing in one case. The laud was situated on
top OF 4 hill, but light and easily worked.