The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-07-09

OF for grazing purposes, and by way of
TESTING its value procured q sma quln>
i5y Of seed of this variety, but without
much hope Of doing any great thirg
with it. planted and pictured such
elegant blue grass pastures, dotted over
with lowing herds ard bleating hoeks f
ShOrt-HOrns and pampered Cots wolds,
us to care but little for any other but my
ideal grass-the Kentucky blue grass.
The blue grass seed was sown very
heavily, and nicely put in with a Scotch
harrow early in March. The orchard
seed was sOwn at the same time on a
small portion of the field on the surface,
after sowing the blue grass. Soon after
sowing, warm and gentle Iain fell.
which caused the seed to terminate and
come up finely The blue grass vas
very delicate and small, while the orchard
seemed strong and vigorous, and grew up
rapidly. Both kinds did well until the
burning snn of August, accompanied by
long spell of dry weather such as we of
ten LaVeiat that season came upon them.
The b'us grass soon sIccumbed to the
heat and the drouth, end, like my once
bright hopes, persisted forever. The
orchard grass held out braVely, continu~
ing to grow and to be green, Neither
the burning sun of summer, or freezing
OF winter could conquer 1t, 1t see ned
inYincible. | was told that the blue
grass would sometimes seem to have per
ished the first season it was sOwn, but
would reappear the following spring.
Spring returned, but my blue grass did
not. All hOTes of ever seeing Kentucky
in Tennessee were now banished, but |
had learned q valuable lesson about pas
turage grasses for our section, with pc
cuniary loss attached to it large enough
to fully impress it upon my mind
While the blue grass was never seen
after the burning sun Of summer, the
orchard grass, continued to grow, REGARDLESS
of heat OF cold, it sprang forward early
In the spring, furnishing paSturage in
abundance before any other grass My
attention was at once directed to its cUl>
tiVatiOn, and the success with which |
have met has been far beyond II most
sanguine expec atoms | can obtain q
good catch Of orchard grass more easily
than a stand of wheat, and it produces a
more profitable crop of seed than wheat.
| generally sow with oats in March, SOW
ing two bu ,hels of seed per acre when
sOwn alone, and one buShel when sOwn
with red clover. have found the lat
ter mode Of sowing do well. Red clover,
assisted by gypsum, is the best ard
cheapest renOVatOr of worn lands that
can lie used, and as it Is biennial, it
soon disappears, leaving the sell greatly
improved. and the orchard grass viii
gain complete possession of the ground,
exclu ding weeds and all other nCxlUus
plants.
| have given It fair trial AMI can
fully attest to its superiority over all
other grasses for pasturage, but cannot
recommend it as being first rate for hay.
This has been a very unfavOrable season
for grass here; a severe spell Of dry
weather, amounting almost to drOuth,
has cut short all kinds Of grass aud clos
yer, except the great orchard. My large
and well-set fields preseat a luxuTiant
grow h of fac grass, which fully attests
its great value, and which continues t.
grow and keep green and fresh despite
the drOuth. From the experience |
have had with orchard grass | can re-
commend it as being the best Of all the
grasses for permanent pastures, or at
least it is the best OF all for the noun
tains and valleys of Tennessee 1t will
commence growing earlier in the spring,
and continue to grow later in the FIJI,
will endure more grazing, and stoc X wi
eat it with greaser relish than any ether
kind, not excepting the famed blue gras-
of Kentucky Sheep winter finely upon
it, with extra feed. when it Is not cover
ed with shOY
W. :. SHIELDS.
Grainge- count y, Tenn.