Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-07-19
Some Notes on the Grasses,


Some Notes on the Grasses,
DR.. Sturtcyan,'s Experimental Sta
tion Bulletin Of June %, relates TO
some Of the more common grasses.
We make room for brief extracts,
giving only the Dr's. conclusions so
far as his experiments have extended:
Last year, soon after taking pos
session Of the Station, we planted
plats with grass in drills eighteen
inches apart. and since then We have
made the following notes Orchard
grass. This survived the winter we'll,
and started into an early and vigor-
Gus growth, being exceeded, however,
in carlincss, yigor and amount Of
carly foliage by the Meadow Foxtail.
It's habit Of growth seems 10 unfit it
for use as q cultivated grass, while
yet 1t possesses its adaptations, which
would recommend it, as mixture in
pasture seeding.
Tall Meadow Oat Grass. The first
Year rather coarse grass, with scant
foliage. After being cut, the after
ma,u superior TO the first growth.
Survived the winter and started me
dium early this spring. It's adapta-
tIons seem rather for use in pasture
mixtures than as a cultivated grass
Rescue Grass 4 coarse, vigorous
gTass, not p!cpossessing in appear
a.cc rs compared with other grasses,
boo. furnishing considerable fodder.
r. Is an annual. In 1883 the plant
was found rc.scedcd from the drop
pings Of the late seeds, but the
,rowth this year has been slow. 1t
Gems to possess but little usefulness
10 the presence OF our better varieties
Of grass.
Tall Fcscuc grass. A vast quan
tity Of short herbage the first year
from seed, It's succulency retained
well into the autumn, but a punching
habit to the stools. This first year
indicating value as a pasture grass.
II came through the winter well,
and the second years growth but
emphasizes our previous remarks.
Meadow Foxtail. Although tall
and moderately leafy it yet seems
light in proportion 10 its bulk. 1t
would seem TO be a valuable grass
for early pasture, while its aftermath,
being superior to its spring growth,
recommends it still more highly.
The growing Of grasses upon a
small scale and without mixture af.
fords insufficient date for the forma.
tion Of an accurate judgment con-
ccrning values. and notes must be
supplemented through the experience
gained from watching the species as
growing in nature and under culuya-
tion. The crowding of grasses seems
to diminish the tufting OF those
species which have tendency there.
10, but yet, as a matter OF common
observation, the non tufting species
of grasses have ever been more pop.
ular for the purpose of cultivation
than those which form tussocks.
The value Of a grass for cultfva.
tion seems to depend upon the foliage
and upon the roofs. To secure The
greatest economy, species Of grasses
that root within different areas Of
soil should be grown in common, es.
pecialiy for pasture use. The June
grass is able to withstand severe
drought, on account of, its deep
roofing habit. The Timothy grass
seems only to bc grown successfully
by usct "a rotatios ,cith ,Dheat, upon
our richer soils, as its roots occupy
nearly the same area as do tbS roots
of the wheat plant. If section -
cut through rich, natural pasture, and
the plants growing theTeoa - studied.
II will be found that many species OF
plants are crowding each other.