Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-02-16
Grasses.

WhIch nus no IuslnS SnIuo as teftIllZor, and,
also, our raising cotton while we neglect to
produce those things Which we aud our stock
subsist upon. Wo tried to show that clover and
grass was our sheet anchor aud only hope to
redeem our lands aud set us on firm founda-
tion of prosperity. To-day, We notice somo of
tho principal grasses.
ORCHARD GRASS.
This is one of our very finest grasses and has
| qualities that make II one Of tho greatest ia.
voritcs with The best almers and grazers Of our
land. In our county II is successfully growr
and farmers, even with small experience with
it, have learned to appreciate lis value and speak
it in The highest terms
:. the West II is grown almost as extensively
as clover and ranks ittlc below il in stock rails.
ing circles. 1t sprouts out earlier Than red
i clover but blooms about the same ,mo and ia
The grass best suited to SOW with it, it comes
on two weeks earlier than any other grass and
is wonderfully productive, yielding from to
tons of hay to the ucre. II bears repeated NOW
ing, producing each time larger yield Of fine
hay. il also bears close and continued crop
plug. Orchard grass is n favore, because of
its rapid growth md tho luxuriance of its after.
ma,h or second growth. yielding iu les than a
weeks iimo after cutting good bite for stock
i is very nutritious and all Lin,is of stock rel
ish it. Sheep it is said, will pass over all other
grasses 10 feed upon it. No better grass can
bo found for pilch COWS; the milk is always
abundant and Tho tutter produced is Of n
beautiful yellow color, having no bad fay,r. In
decd it is Goshen butter made at home. This
s 'ss tends t. grow in tufts; TO prevent this i,
shnd 'e m:d in evenly in the spring, I! q.
fed c"Te. 1t is ssui;c especially for our South
crn soil, one of lis best qualities being its ca
pahity of resisting the heat and drau.ht,
Keeping green when other grasses urc dried up.
Bes"es il is less exhaustive on the soil than
Iimolhy any of the nillets. II is one of the
most permanent Of all grasses and when well set
grows vigorously for many years.
IL grows well on almost any soil or in any
Climate and will thrive on comparatively Thin
land but like most other crops, does best on
land that In" some strength This grass is
often planted OF ste hilly land, and it is good
TO prevent thin !apas ,.om washing. The pre-
per time for sowipg is in February or March.
II may be sown on oats or wheat with clover, or.
ii may tc sown ny iseli, and some prefer this
mode, thinking they can secure a better st.nd.
IL contains ~ pounds 10 the b,.shel aud when
sown with clover 90 pounds Of this grass ": Il
quart cf clover should bc sown TO The aero
Sow after the harrow and follow with light
brush No fnimcr 81 oald be without u small
field Of orchard grass.
This grass is mucl, grown in the West, but
little, as yet. in Ibis country 1t is a valuable
grass o:op onlr aud not Tor
pasture o. ~ a,y rrolnc'iye. sI,rr-
of hay I" The ao,s. ! r:r,s but lille aftermath
or second growth aud il cropped close, crows
up slowly, therefore it is not we'll suited for
pasture. It, is inclined TO run out in Years.
Timothy s best suited 10 low meadow or moist
peaty Soils not doing we'll on light sandy or
gravcy lard. I, ccnnot stan well the hot sun
when sown n II, Ian 's. ~, kinds Of stock rc,.
ish it, while il yic''s .rgcr per cent. o
nutiivc ma; er than any o.hcr kind of grass
IL should ha cut wh::l in Bloom TO make the
best hay. The yield is grcatcr when The seed
is ripe on acc unit Of the great quantity aWl
weight OF Tie seed, oc wh:eh II often yields from
} TO 10 hundred pounds rcr acre. II is not
suited TO sow with cioycr because the clover
natures mucl: earlier than this grass. There is
difference of opinion rs 10 the test time 10 SOW
it. Some prefer March. Before sowing, hc
land should be plowed deeply and well pulvcr-
iztd. II contains as pounds to the bushcl
Sow frcm eight to twelve pounds 10 the acre.
RED TOP OR HERDS GRASS.
in the West this grass is called Red Top per-
hnps from the pu,plish color Of its head and
this is, no doubt, its proper name. 1t makes a
very fine permanent pasture, is hardy and -four
isics almost any kind Of SOIL 1t will grow
on poor, thin, gravclly land forming tufts,
where scarcely any other cultivated grass will
grow. But it thryes on damp wet soil, where it
forms beautiful and luxurious growth. a few
farmers near Seneca had some low or fat lands
sown with this grass last year and IL did we'll,
producing good crop Of hay. II is one of the
few grasses that will take hold in soft, spongy
eoils, firm enough to resist being pulled up by
the roots when being pastured. II should be
cut when in blossom to be relished by stock
On poor land it will not grow more than l2
inches high but in moist rich soil it atains tho
height Of or feet Red Top when sown with
clover or Timothy will at last take tho field and
''hold the FORT running the others out. When
once we'll set it will last for many years, max
ing good permanent pasture. II makes good
hay, much of which we buy from the West TO
feed 10 our stock, whcn we can raise il very
well at homo. 1t can be sown in fall or sprinp
Oh oats or alone. 1t contnins II pounds to tho
bushcl. One should SOW TO u bushels per
acre.
| BLUE GRASS.
This grass mny almost be called an evergreen.