The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-03-18
AN ABLE LECTURE.
On Laying Down Land TO Permanent
Pasture.
DELIVERED. BEFORE THE STATE AGRI-
CULTURAL COLLEGE RECENTLY
AN EXCELLENT AND INVALU
ABLE DOCUMENT INDEED.

We How VIII Take nOClce OF the va
rieties of grass seeds, excluding clo-
ver for the present, which are named
and used in mixtures on various
soils and in different situatio MS.
There are in use in England, about 80
in number. Some are included in
all mixtures made, and others are
used I'D special sisuations, only gen
orally speaking. in those positions
which are not favorable to the better
class of grasses. / propose to re-
view, i'll the first place, those grasses
which are included in mixtures on
all soils, as they are of course most
widely known and used.
The grass which starts earliest
from the winters rest is aloDecaaus
prate,asis, or Meadow F'oxtaii; it Is
also of free growth aud succeeds im
all places, but especially OH alluvial
soil and water meadows.
Almost ~ early is aut1,ocd,sthuns
odofiat,ea, which is valued not from
the bulk OF food it produces, but on
account of its fragrant character
which it retains in hay. Sweet YER
nal is its common name, and it is
held by some to be largely the cause
of hay asthma when Towering, to
those people who are susceptible TO
its influence.
Dactylis. glonerat0, or Cocksfooi,
is the !" Orchard Grass "of this State,
and is a most valuable and free-grow-
ing variety. Its autumn growth is
SO luxuriant that after other grasses
have ceased growing, this grass
throws ont fine quantity of feed.
1t makes coarse an | bulky hay, but
is always sown down. My observa-
ton OF this grass in Oregon during
the past summer is very favorable to
its use.
Fsstasca, or Fescue. OF this class
use eight varieties. F. praiensis
and F. ovina are the best, bnt the
others have valuable and special quail
tiles, especially for sheep feeding.
They grow all the year round and
admit OF very close grazing. From
the fact that of the fescues some:
thrive on poor uplands aud others ON
rich lowlands, it will be seen that
their range Of soils is extensive and
they are a very valuable class of
grass.
Poa prateasis, or Smooth-stalked
Meadow Grass is, l believe, identical
with the celebrated Kentucky Bue
Grass. 1t is very early and grows
great quantity Of fodder. Like or
chard grass it grows very freely in
and early winter.
Pod triUidlis resembles the former
closely, but is better adapted for wet
and low,lying lands.
Two more varieties of "Poa "iare
used which do not call for special
but p.,,ensoralis, it should
be noted, grows freshly under trees
and in shady places. This is worth
remembering when woodland is in
tended for pasture.
Cynosura1s cristatzs is free-growing
and green grass, bears close grazing
snd is an especial favorite with sheep.
!. Crested Dogstaip is its common
name.
Pysle,ns a,a'ate,ase is known both
here and in England as Timothy
and Catstail." In Oregon it grows
much larger and finer than ever saw
it in England. It makes an immense
bulk of splendid hay, more adapted
Tor the use of horses than for cattle.
It does not grow much herbage and
Is not favorite in England | ut is
always sown in mixtures, probal ly |
,n account of the bulk it
yields when the pastures are cut for
nay. Further remark on this grass
s unnecessary as it is SO well known
n this State. 1t is with us a true
but ] am told that here
with annual cuttings it wears out in
'ix or eight years and requires renew
Il. This is the natural consequence
If reaping only the seed talks of
grass, whereas, the same grass, if kept
iown by grazing, is seen to be per.
.nnial. This point will come out
more clearly when we consider, as
We will do. the Ryegrass Lozixm.
The varieties of Lol;atns in cultiva-
ion arc almost endless, but for our
purpose they divide into two, an
lnal " and perennial and dismiss
ng the annual " varieties with the
.emark that they are best for use
when only one or two years. grass is
'cquired, the succeeding crop being
,rain, as there is less difficulty in
,etting rid of the roots of the grass