The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-07-09

due to the growth of grass Wool can be con-
sidered as a product Of the pasture and the
meadow, and as for milk and butter, they are
still more directly the condensed forms of
grasses.
The farmer who would be successful, must
keep sharp eye upon his land that is down
to grass. Int yields HIM good crop OF hay,
or furnishes HIM rich pasture for his animals
he may be quite sure he is on the road to sue
cess. On the other hand, il the meadow Is
light, and the pasture furnishes only scanty
picking, there is little hope that the year will
he profitable one. Look well to the grass
land,
The number of kinds of grasses that it is
profitable to grow is quite large, some OF them
being better suited for one set OF conditions of
soil, climate, &c, while Others thrive best
when the circumstances are quite the opposite.
a grass that is now attracting considerable at
tention, and is worthy of still more, Is the
orchard grass (DOctyLis gl0rmeratd) This grass
is generally known IN England as cocks
foot" and the seed Is sold as such IN foreign
seed stores. 1t Is not native OF our country,
but came to us from Europe. 1t was brought
from England in colonial times, so that it Is an
old guest, and Is in fact so much at home here
that we can call 1t a regular Residential wei
come member of our group OF valuable grasses.
| Ills OICudiu glass WAC oo SuSSSooaui AZ is'
growth in Virginia in the early days that its
seed was taken back to England as orchard
grass in 1894 and thus new and increased IN.
terest was created in 1t under Its new name
Since that time the culture Of orchard grass
has largely increased, and it now holds high
rank as an agricultural fodder plant.
One Of our leading authorities on grasses
writes of the orchard grass as follows; 1--WE
may say that we know of no other grass, no,
even the universally cultivated timothy, SC
well deserving the attention OF our farmers for
both hay and pasturage as orchard grass. |,
adapts itself to all varieties of soil; its stems
are very leafy; 1t does well IN the shade OF
trees; it gives Il heavy aftermath, and 1t is in
its best condition, in blossom at the same time
as red clover; all of these being in It's favor as
meadow grass. For pastures it is quite as
valuable, starting quite early in spring; push
ing new growth very rapidly after it has beer
grazed over; lasting late in the fall, and endur
ing drouth better than almost any other
There are some objections to the orchard grass
1t has tendency to grow in tussocks, thus
giving an uneven surface to the meadow OF
pasture. The plants have weak hold upor
the soil, the roots not being large or deep Or
this account the grass is sometimes pulled W
by the roots as it is being fed upon by cattle
Thick seeding will overcome very largely, TIT
first objection and the second can be remedie(
by a rolling early IN spring as soon as the gras
starts and also by not turning cattle upon TIT
seeded land until the roots have made goot
growth. 1t should not be pastured the frs
season. Like timothy, the seed of the orchard
grass may be sown with the gram crops eithe
IN the spring or fall. Two bushels of seed pc
acre Is little enough, using about ID pounds o
clover seed with it-H. p. IN Country Gent.