The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-05

the finest late fall and winter pasture. if
it is not eaten down during the summer,
but is left to perfect a close and luxuriant
growth. 1t makes good lawn grass
when sown alone, but if mixed with red
top 1T is crowded out and perishes. On
this account mixed lawn grass is usually
failure, and single grass is usually
a success if of a variety that has creeping
roots.
There are large number of excellent
grasses that are rarely heard Of some
are cultivated and some natural or wild.
OF these, there are the fescues, meadow
fescue, and tall fescue, both extremely
useful, both for hay and pasture; the
oat-grasses, the tall and the yellow oat-
grasses, and these are also of great value
when mixed with others; perennial rye
grass and Italian rye-grass are also
valuable, the farmers especially; meadow
foxtail is good grass, and is very much
like timothy in regard to its'spike and
leaf, but is more bristly or hairy, as its
name might indicate. These are all
nutritious and acceptable to stock; they
are all fbrous rooted, but do not grow
in stools, and so do not crowd each
other or leave bare spaces in the sod.
Fall fescue and tall oat-grass mix well
with timothy and orchard grass, and the
mixed kinds produce heavier cutting
and denser pasture than any one kind
alone would. Perennial rye-grass is a
useful addition to these, especially upon
moist, soils upon which it thrives with
luxuriance.
A native grass that is most persistent
weed deserves some notice. This is the
much-abused quack or witch, or couch
grass, so Objectionable for the very reason
that it might be most desired as per-
manent hay or pasture grass. This grass
is species of wheat, but is perennial,
and spreads by the extension of its roots,
which grow SO vigorously as to often
force themselves completely through
potatoes when grown among them as
weeds. These root stocks penetrate the
soil several feet sometimes running near
the surface and throwing up stems at in
tervals of few inches. In short time
the soil is completely filled with net
work of .interlaced roots and stems, and
an exceedingly firm and close sod is
formed. The grass hasa tall succulent
stem, with clasping, somewhat short,
broad, and lancelate leaves, and spike
upon which the spikelets are arranged
alternately upon two opposite sides,
laterally, and not edgewise, as in rye
grass, against the stem. 1t is of a purer
green color than timothy, and the
heritage is readily eaten, either green or
as hay. by cattle. When growing thickly
1t yields very sweet tender fodder and is
quite productive. It's character insures
its permanence, for it is one of the most
difficult of all hardy and persistent
plants to kill except by being well turned
under by the plough. Then the dense
thick sod soon rots and produces most
valuable manure, which adds to the soil
a large quantity of decaying vegetable
matter, that very soon changes the
character of light sandy soil for the
better and greatly improves it, It ma
lures about the same time as timothy
and shows It's spike when wheat is com
ing into ear. A field that has been over
run with this grass, especially if it is
somewhat low and damp, affords a most
excellent pasture, and as it seems to be
easily accommodated in regard to soil,
growing luxuriantly upon dry sandy
banks as well as in bitches, but not so
thrlttlly, 1t may well be considered
worthy OF some regard by the farmer
VINO Is seeking permanent pasture
grass
Millet and Hungarian grass, annual
plants of similar character and value. are
often mistaken for the permanent grasses.
These, however, are merely fodder
Plants, and occupy the soil for no more
than two months, for they are ready for
cutting in that short period after seed
ing. These are exceedingly valuable on
this account, and for their large yield Of
the most nutritious fodder which can be
fed green or made into hay; but thew dc
not enter the list of the true grasses any
more than do oats, barley, or rye, which
are all grasses in fact, but not in the
sense in which those varieties grown for
pasture or hay are considered.-N Y
Times.