The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-09-02
INCREASING THE GRASS PRODUCT.

At the recent meeting of the Vermont
State Board of Agriculture, Mr.. c. II.
Hubbard made some excellent practical
remarks on this topic, applicable to other
States as web as Vermont. We select as
follows from tho Vermont Farmer:
We can increase the grass crop without
commercial manure better than any other
crop. First, by top-dressing mowings.-
This is the cheapest and most expeditions
way. This must be restricted to meadows
where there is already fair quantity of
grass roots in healthy condition and also
where it is not too dry, otherwise we shall
be greatly disappointed in the result. The
manure used should not be coarse and
lumpy, for in this condition it will lay on
the ground for years and not benefit the
grass to any great extent except what little
is washed into the ground by rains, and
then it reaches only certain portions. Sec
ond, by blowing up and reseeding where
the ground is dry and the grass all run out.
In parts too rough and stony to pillow to
advantage, put on fine manure in wet time;
sometimes plaster can be used to advant-
age, but not on all soils. Plaster does best
on clover. l use from half bushel to a
bushel of plaster per acre and apply it just
after the clover starts from the ground. l
recommend blowing and reseeding with
manure, without raising any other crop, in
order to get over the ground quicker. l
consider ten loads Of good manure per acre
fair dressing where nothing but grass Is
sown. At what season shall we stock this
ground in order to have the seed sprout
and grow? Some farmers think they must
SOW grain with the grass to shade it, but
this is not necessary. prefer to SOW it as
soon after haying as possible, but if it hap
pens to sprout and then comes on dry
weather. you lose your seed. But this can
not be avoided. You can sow as late as
November and get a good crop. But do
not SOW clover in the Fall by any means;
it is too sensitive to frost 1t is not neces
sary to harrow in your seed if you SOW
early. When you SOW herd grass late, you
must NOW high the first year, for the roots
are not sufficiently established to stand
exposure to the heat of the sun and dry
weather. A peck of herd grass, ten pounds
of clover and bushel of red top, make
good mixture per acre. Clover is very valu-
able on account of its taking SO much OF
its food from the air. June grass l con-
slider best to feed cows, but must be cut in
June. | do not believe in top-dressing
heavily enough to smother the clover, and
in regard to rover, it is better to NOW it off
early So that IL can start again De1Ore w H.
ter than to let it rot on the ground or feed
it off In regard to curing hay, it should
be Just dry enough not to heat in the NOW,
and so that it will come out green in the
Winter.
Soils are adapted to different kinds of
grass, and farmers will 40 well to ascertain
the adaptation. Orchard grass is good for
moist land, and may take the place of
swamp and wild grass. Two or three crops
NAV be cut in one season. Hungarian grass
will grow and mature in fifty days, and
NAV be used when grain has died out
Some people grow fodder corn. but my
objection to that is that it takes a great
deal of manure. and it is great labor to
harvest it. Fodder corn should be allowed
to wilt before fed to cows, or it will cause
them to give watery milk.