Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-02

was never plowed and what Is more
was never cleared. In some cases
grass seed waa sown among the trees;
but In tho majority Of instances the
seed was solf-sOwn Almost the en- r.
area Of the State Of Texas rs GOV 4
with a permanent sod The varieties
OF grass have changed 10 some extent
since the country was first settled. but
the yield has nOtapparently diminished,
and there Is no appearance that the
grass Is likely 10 die out.
One thing that operates against
permanent artificial sod in this cOun-
try is the way the land is treated be-
fore Il Is seeded down 10 grass. IL is
often devoted for many years 10 the
production Of crops that take from the
soil the same elements Of fertility that
are required for grass. It is planted
with corn and sOwn with grain till the
yield becomes very small. IL is then
seeded TO grass, but there Is so little
for it 10 feed upon that II is short lived.
Ordinarily, soil that has been plowed,
narrowed, and cultivated for a series Of
years is too loose for the formation Of
a soil that shall be permanent. The
sun parches it, the water washes it,
and the frost heaves II TO such an ex-
/ tent that the more tender grasses are
destroyed root and stalk About the
| time that the grasses that were sown
have become killed out, the soil is in
the best condition, az fan as frmness
is concerned, for being covered with a
permanent sod.
Another thing that operates against
the foundation Of permanent sod is
the kind Of grasses we cultivate. Tim
othy and red clover are our fashionable
forage crops, and it appears TO be diff
cult to induce farmers TO substitute any
thing else for them. They produce a
large amount of feed while they last,
but they are not enduring The red
clover plant endures but two years
| under the most favorable circumstances,
and it is often killed by having its roots
| thrown out of the ground the winter
after the seed is sown. Timothy can
be retained In the soil many years only
by the most judicious management.
The roots are comparatively short, so
that it cannot withstand drouth on very
dryland. lfcutl low the hot sun after hay
ing is likely to destroy or injure them.
In an overstocked pasture, stock, espec-
| ldlly bnbbl anu uOIbb5s VIII DlJe luB
bulbs below the stalks and insure the
death of the plant.
The most favorable lands for perma-
nent meadows and pastures are those
that are tolerably moist; but by the aid
of suitable grasses in sufficient variety
permanent and practicable soil may
be established almost anywhere. The
best, and by far the easiest way to Sc
cure a permanent sod for pasturage, in
the West, is to leave the native prairie
sod unturned. II is very easy to inn
prove the character of the cut by intro
ducing new grasses which may be done
by only scratching the sod with har-
row. This will afford sufficient fine
earth to cover grass seed The most
suitable grasses to introduce will depend
on the character of the soil. On moist
land red.top does remarkably well, but
it amounts to very little on dry, sandy
soils. Orchard grass and Kentucky
blue grass are well adapted for forming
a permanent sod, as their roots pene-
trate the soil to a great distance. White
clover has remarkable endurance, and
for covering hillsides is Superior to al
most any kind of grass Chicago Times.