Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-02-12
State Board of Agriculture.
MEETING AT SPRINGFIELD.

CYRUS G. PRINeLE, member Of the
Board, read very interesting and val
liable essay on The Grasses of Vermont
presenting large number of samples,
and many valuable suggestions as to
their adaptation and use. 1t was la
bored production, though not likely to
be appreciated by majority of farmers.
He regards Timothy as the leading grass
for successful dairying, but thinks farm
ers cannot afford to grow herdsgrass as
there are many other better grasses; that
we should select those species best adapt
ed to our soils; that we should grow a
variety suited to the different purposes
for which they are TO be used. Blue
joint he recommends for wet lands and
red-top for low moist land. The orchard
grass he counts as valuable, though it
should never be sown with herds-grass,-
will do well when mixed with clover.
JAMES r. WALKER, of Springfield
cannot afford to raise orchard grass, as
can never cut it early enough. 1t
should never be mixed with any other
grass. Fowl-grass, red-top and blue
joint are the best varieties for wet soils !;
most Of these grasses will seed them
selves.
Mr.. HUBBARD.-I have sown herds
grass and clover, and clover and herds
grass, not because believe they are the
best grass, but because / am in that
rut. | believe there are other grasses
and that a mixture should be sown. To
sow seed in windy day, have found it
good practice to mix it with little
wet saw dust
PIERCE of Weathersfeld. would
like tolearn Mr.. Pringle's opinion of the
preferable grasses for farmers to grow
on dry land.
Mr.. PRINaLE.-I think herds-grass
and red-top stand drouth better than
most other kinds
ID. G. WRIGHT of Westminster
would like to inquire of Mr.. Walker if
his orchard-grass is long.lived should
like also to hear the opinions of gentle
men present, concerning the time to SOW
the different varieties of seed, or in other
words the best times to seed land
Mr. WALKER.-My orchard grass
kills about as easy as herds-grass. be-
lieve l am too slow a man to raise or
chard grass, it needs to be cut too early,
sometimes as early as the middle of June.
l think it would catch we'll in pastures.
Mr.. HUBBARD.-I have had good
success in seeding in the fall think it
should be sown as early as the first of
September. 1t would be good plan, |
think, to stock down directly after the
corn crop is Off In such case, the
grass seed should be sown early in the
spring, before the frost is out of the
ground, l usually cover my grass seed
with roller.
Mr.. FoRBUsH.- We have with us sew
eral gentlemen from Westminster.
should like to have some of them tell us
something about witch-grass.
M. W. DAVIS, Westminster. am
requested to speak for the Westminster
delegation. | can say word for witch
grass, as / have had considerable expert
ence with it. We think it is the saliva.
ton of our farms, as it never refuses to
grow under any circumstance and if cut
early is a good grass. The more we cul-
tivate the better it grows. If all other
crops fail, witch-grass steps in and will
ingly helps make up the loss, With us
red clover is one of our best crops. We
think we can grow larger corn after a
crop of clover than any other crop.
am in the milk business and could not
well do without it. 1t does not last as
long as red-top but serves us to better
purpose. In putting seed into the ground
harrow it in. Difference in locality
makes necessary difference in plan.
On our light soils, if we should only roll
in seed the winds would blow it all into
the river.
Mr.. PRINGLE.-Mr. Hubbard's plan
of seeding land is in accordance with
natures plan, being about the time seeds
fall to the ground. We are told that
red-top has been sown with success on
dry lands in the Connecticut Valley. and
inquiry has been made as to the different
kinds and their adaptation to dry and
wet soils. think the orders are all
filled from the same kind of seed and
that the soil of the Connecticut River
land is moister than that in the Cham
plain valley.
SEC. CoLLIER.-Mr. Pringle thinks
witch-grass quite as nutritive as herds.
grass. Now if it will live always and
do a little better than that, why would
1T not be valuable grass for pastures ?
Mr.. CHAPMAN.-I am of the opinion
that if it was left to run at large in our
pastures it would spend so much time in
growing roots there would be no time
left for it to grow anything for cattle.