Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-05-07

constantly keeping small supply with
| in reach of the horse (not mixing it in
the foodO. the recurrence OF worms may
be prevented.
History Of a Poor Farm.
The swamp which has been ditched
and cleared OF brush, is now dry and
perfectly free from surface water, the
drains running freely. The tussocks
are now beng cut of with broad,
heavy hoe and piled up IN heaps to dry,
80 that they can be burned off by-and'
by. 1t is intended to cut up the sur
face of the swamp with a disc harrow,
instead of blowing it, by which it will be
prepared for the seed in much better
manner than by turning burrows. This
IS a new method Of retaining a piece
Of swamp land, and the work has been
closely watched by my neighbors. 1t
was on a sunny dag in March when
some Of my frequent visitors were ex"
aiming the effect of the drains, and
my plan was discussed very freely
Ny old nelghsor was dubious about the
economy Of the process.
What do you expect it to cost?' he
asked.
L suppose when 1t is all done that it
will cost as the first years crop or per-
haps just tribe more; and if does not
cost much more than that, it will be a
remarkably cheap job, l replied.
what crop do you intend to put into
it?' asked Mr.. Martin.
Fred and have been discussing that.
/ propose to seed it down to grass
alone, and Fred thinks crop Of oats.
to cut green for fodder, would be better
seeding down 10 grass with the oats
There would be two crop In place
Of one,' said Fred.
Oats will do very we'll in that mucky
soil, remarked my old neighbor.
That IS very trre,' l replied, but
suppose the ground was sown with oats
and then with six quarts of timothy and
one bushel Of red-top per acre, cutting
the oats green so as to give the grass
chance to make good growth in the
fall, what would be the result p
There should be at least two tons Of
oat-fodder, which would be equal 10
hay, and perhaps late cutting OF hay,
| If you had a good catch,' replied Mr..
Martin; but that depends upon what
! grsss.seed is sown. would seed down
with two bushel of red-top per acre.
'Orchard-srass is the best grass one
can grow; it comes in early and it lasts
until late, remarked the old gentleman;
L have had it growing in my orchard
for some years, and it is the first that
10 green IN spring and the quickest to
start after having been cut, of any grass
have seen; and il does we'll in wet
places. too.
There is variety OF grasses which
grow well upon moist ground said
Fred : of these timothy is first in
value, being the richest Of all the grasses
In carbohydrates or heat forming and
respiration supporting matters; but it
has the disadvantage of being exhaus-
tive ofthe soil. Orchard-grass comes
next to timothy in nutritious value,
while it has the great advantage Of
being more leafy, of earlier and more
rnpid growth and furnishing, in con.e.
suence, larger amount of green fodder
for cutting or for pasture
That is precisely what want, and
what the majority of the farmers want
in q grass said 1; it 10 the qualities OF
earliness and lateness, of rapid growth
and Of leainess, rather than 'stalkiness'
that are the most desirable, aud my
experience OF orchard-grass is that II
possesses those qualities TO to a greater
degree than any other grass. 1t has
the habit, however, of gro win in punches
unless It is thickly sown or it is mixed
with other varieties so that it would
be better TO mix some red-top and tall
fescue with it to overcome this tendency.
Ny idea is to proceed as follows Break |
up the surface with the disc harrow and |
mellow it a. much as possible, and SOW
one bushel Of orchard-grass, half q
bushsl Of tall fescue and four quarts OF |
Il timothy per Acre. THIS, l think
would give close growth, which would
produce early and good hay, aud, il
necessary, frequent cuttings for feeding
green, which wsuld be worth more than
the crop Of oats and the possible crop OF
Aftermath
How would you seed 1t DOWN. H.
CURED any old neishbor.
That is a question which requires
consideration. l am inclined TO think
it weuld be better TO SOW the grass seed
alone and without any grain crop. such
n oats, as you and Fred seem to ad.
vise.'
Went the oats shade the grass and
protect It asked the old gentleman.
Il don't think the young grass needs
any protection, especially early in The
seas on. When grass is sown with a
gram crop. it is usually sheltered too ,
much, aud we gel weak, thin growtaI
which 10 greatly injured or destroyed al
'ogethsr when 1t Is suddenly exp sed to
ha hat ann and dry weathar of Tnl.