Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-27
Gales ano Sketfbfs.
hungarian Grass.
How IT MAY Best RE- GRowN AND ITs
VALUE As FODDER.

The season for sowing this "catch crop
is now ut hand. In purchasing IL bush
c:s Of seed this week | found the market
nearly depleted, thus illustrating that this
crop is being sown more largely than
nsnal. and is obtaining appreciation. And
II deserves it. Each year am better sat
isfied with it than | was the last. There
are; some peculiariiies connected with its
growing that need. however, to be under
stood before it can give the best satisfac-
fion.
call it ''catch CROP advisedly. 1t
is fitted by its rapid growth to intervene
between other crops, and to be used tn
supplement failures. When sown in hot
weather, six weeks is enough time for its
growth II must be sown late-in June
preferably, but it will answer to SOW in
July or August. 1t loves heat and mod
crate drouth When no cool days or nights
occ.Ir it can be depended upon for four
tons Of hay per acre from fertile land. A
single cool spell will cause it to head pre-
maturely and diminish this crop by halt.
When sown June 20, single cool night
in early July will reduce its hight some
times to 10 inches at the harvest the last
oi this month; succession OF warm
nights will allow 1t to attain hight OF
three feet before the heads blossom.
when planted ihinly the plant becomes
bushy, coarse and woody, and Is not rel
ishId by cows. When thickly sown, the
stalks are fine and succulent and its value
is nearly equal for feding purposes to the
very best of English hay. find five pecks
of seed per acre the best quantity, and
have never obtained satisfaction from less
than four pecks. This thick planting is
one of the secrets for its successful grow
ing. Another secret is to NOW before it
natures. After the seeds are formed the
plant becomes woody and is not relished by
cattle. Upon the first general appearance
Of the heads it is time to think of cutting.
for the whole field should be down by the
time the bloom appears, and so quickly
does maturaiion take place that quick
work is required Oh the part of the farm
or to forestall it. Hungarian is a slow
crop to cure. II requires at least three
days of the best hay weather, and oftener
more. to fit for the barn.
Il has been my practice to SOW it on
run down grass land. after moving the
grass such as it is. Upon the inverted
sod, harrow in bone dust. ton to the
acre, and then SOW the Hungarian. In
seven weeks about four tons per acre of
Hungarian hay, in good seasons, is stored
in my barns. and the grass is laid down to
permanent grass. also follow the corn
crop with Hungarian. The land
in corn last year is allowed to
grow up to weeds, etc. until
about June 10. Then this green manure
ing of weeds is plowed under, bone dust
applied. the lawn sown with permanent
grasses. and the last crop of the rotation
is under way.
Hungarian grass, in this vicinity. is not
n sale crop. 1t. however, replaces hay.
and allows the hay to be sold. Last win
ter my cattle were fed exclusively upon
Hungarian hay and corn slower. and what
hay the horses did not consume was sold
at $50 IA ton. The cattle came through
the winter looking we'll, and their milk
record was satisfactory.
am now using bone dust. a ton to the
acre. for the Hungarian. Then no more
fertilizer applied for the seeding down to
grass; nor until the sod is again broken
up for corn. This method | have rea-
soned out as being tn, most economical
in the long run, and it is now under ex
perimentation. Thus far the results of
two years trial are very encouraging. II
does not do to be sparing of fertilizers on
such rapid growing crop as Hungarian.
if we would get satisfaction. If the ma
nure for the whole rotation be applied to
this crop at once. do not think the farm
er in the end will consider it as especially
exhausting.-Dr. +. Lewis Sturterdnt IN
Springfield Republican.