The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-07

repose which marks the countenance OF
the typical American was undisturbed; the
non-committal custom Of answering one
question by asking another was faithfully
observed, and no one could have discover
cd by any outward manifestation that, with
in that placid society and in the simplicity
of that rural people, the deep, hot mystic
RES Of the human heart were raging and
glowing. And so, at the appointed hour,
the members of the Farm-yard Club as
sembled at Mr.. Hopkins to continue the
discussion on
THE HAY CROP.
President Hopkins announced that the
important questions of what grasses to Sc
lcct, how to seed down the land, the best
time to cut grass had already been thor
oughly considered; and he felt confident
that the views advanced on these points at
the last meeting would be found to be ad
vantageous to all who would apply them.
He looked upon the amount Of seed to be
used, the selection of annual and peren-
NAL grasses and the best method of making
hay as also questions of vital Importance
10 the farmer; and he hored they would be
carefully discussed by the club.
SEEDING GRASS LANDS.
Mr.. Howe expressed the opinion that on
most lands liberal use of seed was de-
eirable. 81 have examined many theories
said he, {" nd find none better than that
BASED on the practice of the best farmers
I have known in this section of the state.
The object of seeding should be to occupy
,he land entirely with the crop of grass
which you propose 10 raise. If the grass
seed is sown in the sp'ing with barley, this
grain will and very materially in preventing
the growth of weeds, which are liable to
spring up in the early summer months,
and will also protect the tender grass
through the hot months of July and Au-
gust. But if grass seed is sown in the au-
,umn, the entire " srk of occupying the
land so as to prevent the growing of the
weeds will fall upon the grass alone.
Whether therefore you sow in the spring
with grain and desire to prevent the great
growth of weeds, or sow in the autumn
and wish to provide against the injury from
frost in winter, think it best to use an
abundant supply of seed There is but
little danger of the plants choking each
Others and / ain not sure that the stalks of
grass like the trees in the forest do not
protect each other. Good land, moreover,
land in excellent filth and well MANFRED
(and no other should be seeded to grass),
requires thick growth of plants in order
TO produce the largest crop of which it is
capable. | should say, therefore, for the
hay crop, give me good, strong land, plenty
of manure, and liberal supply Of seed.
What would be called liberal supply,
leave it for those who come after me to in
dictate"
When Mr.. Howe had concluded his little
introduction, Peter Ilsley arose, with the
air of one who is conscious of superior
knowledge and experience and delivered
himself as follows:
Mr.. Moderator-No man here can say
that have taken the time of this Club in
long speeches or in much discussion.
have heard the minister, and the doe or
and the school master, and the fancy far.
mer, excuse me, Mr.. Moderator, all tel
about the farm and the way to carry it on
and haven't said word. Sometimes
have got in over my ears, trying to fol-
low these men, but have generally man.
aged to make out what they meant; and il
didn't, have concluded that it was more
their fault than mine. For have always
noticed that any man tell other people what
he thoroughly understands himself. But
howsomever, know grass, and hay, and
grass seed and good crop, and how tc
make hay while the sun shines. And
won't give up to any man in this part o.
farming. Now as to seeding. The min
lister is more than half right. You can pu
too many kernels of corn into hill. YOU
can plant potatoes too thick in row. You
can bother and poster man-golds and ruts
bagas to death by having them too thick
But like good firm sod of grass, ant
even if the crop is fine because it stand
so thick, l would rather have it thar
coarser and heavier grass, growing on lane
thinly seeded. / don't mean to say tina
you can seed every kind of land in thu
same way. Light sandy lands cannot beal
heavy growth of grass. They want ev
cry plant to have chance by itself. Ever
if you manure them well, you must no
exhaust them by giving them more sect
than they can handle. But good, rich
strong land, land made for grass, shoult
have chance to bear all that can stant
upon it. l never seed down sandy land
1t don't pay. / want always patch 70
melons, and squashes, and cucumbers, ant
early stuff for the market; so keep m,
sandy, light land for such crops as these
But don't believe IN trying to raise gras
on land like this. Give me heavy, clayey
loan, and l will get all the grass you cal
swing scythe through, and all you cal
make on the ground. Grass grown thicl
on such land as this, and cut in good sea
son, will always make good hay. And
the reason is good one, and the land rich
you can get second crop enough to pay 70
years work and interest This / cal
grass land. You can't get good corn off O
it; you can't get good potatoes; you can
get good turnips; you can't get early crops
but you can get good grass and enough O
it. Now such land as this / seed we'll
When i began i did just as my father d
before me, and sowed three pecks of herds
grass, peck of red top and four pounds O
clover to the acre. / soon quit that.
found that my crop was too thin. Their
were a good many little bare spots on tn
field. The grass grew too rank to be real
good The hay was coarse but light.
didn't weigh well and because it didn
weigh we'll it didn't feed out well. TIL
cattle didn't thrive on it. 1t didn't spen
well. l found that the finer grass, kind c
run hay, not exactly meadow hay but fin
soft grass that grows in the dry runs, wher
there is not too much clay, went three time
rs far in feeding cattle and mich COWS.
forkful was as heavy again as nv coars
herds-grass, and SO | made up my mind I
SOW my seed thicker. used half busht
of herds-grass, three pecks of redtop ant
if it was sown in the spring, seven pound
of clover, and I have had no trouble sine,
Sometimes where the land is very heavy
don't get much redtop. But / get plent
of good fine herdsgrass, and the first yet
a flrst-rate cut of clover / have tried th
way of seeding good many years, an
have found no reason to quit it. My ha
is better thanit was when / used less seet
and | am sure there is more Of it.
But, Mr.. Moderator q meant Mr.. Pres
dent thought was in town meeting
raise some kinds of grass just rs d
grain. If Il am going to sell hay, | wan