The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-06
THE PRESS.
MONDAY MORNING, JULY 6. 1874
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD,
HUNGARIAN GRASS.

| Its large head filled with a multitude OF seeds
(hence its name Milum) affording food for
animals and sometimes furnishing bread for
| man. ie C .
Fiom lack of botanical knowledge or
from failure to find honest seedsmen some
have been disappointed in their expert
mental cultivation and have become preiu-
diced against its introduction. At an agri-
cultural exhibition some years ago we rec
ollect that good farmer exhibited specimens
underline name of Hungarian grass which he
had obtained and cultivated at considerable
expense, and of course he was not well
pleased to be enlightened by US and informed
that instead of being the true plant it was
| only olthless weed.
In the artificial groups into which grass is
| divided. this variety may be properly cassed
with the cereal grasses, but as we do not
recommend it at all in that direction we re-
ter to it only on account of its value as for
age grass.
Alsike clover was introduced into this
country by the Agricultural Department
about ten years ago from Alsike, Sweden,
where it is Indigenous, thriving in bitches
and moist places; here it finds its most con-
genial soil and climate in New England and
meets with some appreciation from Northern
agriculturists, while at the South and South
west it does not find much favor from its lack
of adaptation.
Lucern, the Medicago Satioa. of the bot
aust, and the blue clover of the Swiss and
Germans was known to the ancient Romans
ald is found throughout Italy and Spain 1t
is more familiarly known to us as the Alfalfa
of California and Spanish America. For the
inhabitants OF those dry and sandy regions it
is invaluable; where not drop of rain or
dew is seen for months, our own red clover
cannot be relied upon, but the Alfalfa with
its deeply penetrating roots, withstands the
protracted drouth and furnishes from its pro-
ductive stalks, succession of cuttings. Thus
far, however, it has failed to meet the expec-
tatiors of experimenters on this side of the
Mississippi
Unlike either of the above forage plants
whose field of success is limited 60 a cempara-
lively narrow range, the Hungarian Grass al
Alsike Clover, produces a sure return and
valuable crop alike in Texas, Missouri, Ohio
aud Massachusetts.
1t will be remembered that this plant is an
annual, producing one crop, and its yield is Of
course proportioned to the condition of the
when compared with other hay, is much
heavier on account of the weight of its large
well filed heads, especially when matured.
When the head first begins to make is ap-
pearance the grass is very often mistaken for
Barn-yard grasp. crus-gaiG, but as it
grows, the head turns rich brown color and
changes to yellow when it ripens. The fod /.
der is valuable as green crop for soling,
and, when well cured, for winter use as hay.
Its special value and that for which we par
ticularly commend it is that it may be sown
laten the season after planting is over, even
after the first hoeing, it the farmer finds that
his grass is thin and short, and that the crop
must be light, or il after long waiting he dis
covers that on some patch of ground the seed
fails to grow or has been destroyed by in
sects, he can then SOW this seed and in eight
or ten weeks cut the crop. The soil should
be thoroughly pulverzed and made rich and
mellow. Smother grass and weeds that the
young plants may have vigorous start, sew
between June 20 and July Is about three
pecks of the seed to the acre, brush or har-
row as you choose and roll so as to smooth
the surface for the mower. The grass should
be cut before the frosts and may be cut and
cured as hay or Graded and put in bundles
like grain. If allowed to stand until the seed
fc ,lxr nj e..
| ing, but it may need to be partially threshed
| as it is said to be too hearty food for some an
| imals, especially horses.
| On Que farm it was sown May 21 and Au-
| gust q seventy-three days after, the crop was
cut and dried, making 1904 pounds of excel
lent bright hay which hoses and cattle ate
with relish, liking it fully as well as they
| did clover.
We have seen well authenticated accounts
| of marvellous growth on the rich bottom
| lands of Texas, some planters reporting sew
| en- tons OF dried fodder from a single acre.
| Our own experience is confined to one ex-
| pertinent. A dozen years since we received
| altpint package OF seed, from the Patent
| Office and having increased the amoant by
! successive sowiDgs we sowed the last of June
| a half -bushe of seed on one acre of poor pine
land wholly given over to witch grass, with
out applying any dressing to the land. Near
i IL
| nearly ripened fodder from the LOT and onr
| best COW ate it with remarkable appetite
| giving as GOOD returns as from the best
hay.
| Mr. Harris in b;s ,,r;zo o.sov rood hoeoro
.ta Co. An.;n,,,,,,n,, ms Soo;ot of O.a;a
III om ,hs $1,000 ""n,ty " '1I';,,,;y, says
suae su 9.i .no S'asses Moi,nJ =, .u.1aeion
rod any ohrd 1n a ad aior a e,.do' s.
p leue4p, 9ionaiu fna S,ass, iou n,oses cru, iol
neillo, snd u cn,amoa c ns;I,i, w. shnn,d snf,ar
ISs anu .a a ,ha str;ola fsos sum, ,'r
G,,5, - onoa, ;, .i0-' 0"'
heius az. AZ oneo ,,"oao,,. .;, .,,o oa mo.
"a. tno pS",,ao,,. 'hI u o.o peios
peoo =, aI Jul a. riop iuu 81.
aneo;a VI ~, oo,,a oa
i'S slo'ps'eu s",ions ~, $50 - .t;s 80 =;
nienu "a, III ~ 81 :, .u,o sdeu ~ ~
or "a aS aar,n IN o oreer 20 thet apev mau be
non,o % fsn,,,;ar ,,,th ,ha ,,sna and ,rha1s y 20
cure reahe seed for s,t,'re pI nsa sau p''n"p' 90
We rros,n,a IL osn ho o ,roo,rod from,
Nra'.rs KondaII g. W,itnaw of n,r e;t, oa U ,ra
raeoect tbar they aduert;ssd IL i; oo r,S az me
an abundant snnnlv in the early snring
az W. sn"ud sGPJ ,ipp 70 - haar fro,, 'p IS orr
readers who m,tv have obtained Successful
| -....I.. =. a. IL.