The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-26
Orchard Grass.
New York Graphic

New York Graphic.
Orchard grass is recommended by some
very highly as u pasture grass. 1t starts
early in spring, grows continuously through
the season, and is preferred above most
grasses by animals 1t will do well in the
shade, and will endure hot dry soils under
full exposure and holds i'm many wears
in the same locality, both upon its own
roots and by self-seeding 1t blooms and
ripens Its seeds so much earlier than many
other grasses that it IS likely to remain
where it once obtains a footh old until the
sod is killed by cultivation. As a meadow
grass it ought to have a moist, but not wet
soil. Land that overflows in winter, or
upon which ice gathers and remains is
unsuited to it, but good grass land, such
may be expected under generous treatment
to produce two good crops every year, is just
what orchard grass needs in order to develop
its good qualities. The seed should be put in
IN July or early in August, so it will not re-
quire cutting the same year; then it will go
through the winter and start strong in the
spring. Two bushels of seed should be sown
to the acre, and as it always grows somewhat
in punches we prefer to fill the intermediate
spaces with Kentucky bTue-grass-Poa Pra-
tense-using one bushel of seed per acre. If
clover IS sown at the same time it will add to
the weight of the crop the first year of cut
ting. These three grasses all ripen nearly
together, and there is no loss from cutting
same time, as would be the case if red-top or
timothy were sown with them.
Orchard grass ripens nearly a month earlier
than red top. In Southern New England it
is fit to cut every year as early as the second
week in June and forward seasons still
earlier. If the land is rich and the grass is
thick on the ground the crop will be as
heavy as red-top or timothy under like cir
cumstanees. Quite frequently, however, the
seed stalks are thin and scattering, owing to
a thinness in the soil or previous heavy crop
ping. The great superiority of this grass
consists in it's habit of continuous growth
after the first cutting in June.
The rowen crop, however, is all leaf, as is
that of Kentucky blue grass, no seed stems
being formed after the first cutting. If the
rowen crop is very heavy, or if it is cut the
third time, as it sometimes must be, the soil
will necessarily become considerably reduced
and consequently the next years growth
light and thin. An orchard-gra sod should
be literally top-dressed every year. as it will
pay we'll for the application in the increased
yield. The first crop must be cut early while
in the first bloom, like other grasses it soon
becomes hard and woody and less palatable,
especially to dairy COWS.
To grow orchard grass successfully one
must get out his haying tools before the
planting and wedding is all done in the cul-
tlvated fields This is sometimes an objec-
ton to its culture, as farmers cannot always
leave their work to attend to it; and again.
the weather so early in the season is not usu-
ally quite as favorable to haymaking. An
offset to this is the advantage from not hav-
ing ones haying come all at once Orchard
grass will continue to be liked and disliked,
according as it is we'll or ill treated.