Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-07-25
More Grasses.

We not only need more grain in THIS
country, but more grasses. We do not
cultivate half of the number Of varieties
which we should. In this particular
English farmers are far ahead of us. 1t
may be said that in this country not
more than six varieties of grass are
extensively or generally cultivated. 1t
is rare to find more than three different
grasses sown together; but one variety
should be In each meadow. The diff
fercnt varieties do not ripcn at the same
time, and ono will be ready 10 cut for
hay when the others are not. But this
very fact makes variety of grasses in
a pasture thing to be desired; it pro-
vides q succession. There Is another
reason why our pastures should contain
a greater variety of grasses than they
do, and ! am sorry to say it is somc-
thing which our farmers have over.
looked. A variety of food is just as
essential to the well-Peing of an animal
in summer rs in winter. II is very
nearly as bad to feed but ono grass, as
to feed but one grain. The profitable
digestion and assimilation of food dc.
mands variety of food, and it is just
as necessary to provide this variety of
food in the pasture as in the crib.
A grass which should be sown more
than it is, is orchard grass. 1t is very
early grass. 1t will do well in part Of
the country north of thirty-fve degrees
north latitude. Its preference is for
a soil moderately dry, porous, fertile
and inclined to be sandy. But it will
grow proftably upon variety OF soils.
On lean, sterile soil ii may be made
very profitable by giving top dressing
of stable manure. The poorest soil is q
stiff, wet clay; i'll this the roots are not
sufficiently vigorous to insure lux.
urious top growth. Its great earliness
is a strong point in its favor. 1t will
furnish good cropping in the spring al.
most before any other grass. Its season
of growth is long; this is another strong
recommendation. II grows late in the
fall. 1t blossoms about the time of red
clover. 1t grows upon good soil to a
height of three feet After cutting OF
cropping it springs up very fast; this
units it for lawns, but is strong point
in its favor as a pasture grass; in this
particular it stands unrivalled. In rainy
weather it will frequently spring up
three or four inches in week. II
seems to make an effort in proportion
to the severity with which it is cropped
The seed must be sown very thick, toI
it cannot be said against this grass thai
it grows too much in stools-a fault
remedied by thick seeding. 1t should
not be pastured for some months after
sowing. The complaints of the want
of hardness and endurance proceed
from pasturing it before its roots have
become stayed in the soil The seed.
bed for it should receive cons derable
amount of preparation. 1t will catch
on unprepared ground, but not we'll.
Harrow the land till it is fine before
sowing. The aftermath is unusually
valuable. One of the good features OF
this is that it will grow in the shade
this makes it very desirable for wood.
land pastures; it is this, believe,
which gives its name orchard grass.
Another. pasture grass which should
receive more attention is blue grass.
Because it has attained such promi.
nence in Kentucky the idea is not I'M
common that it will not do well else.
where; but it is a very profitable pas
ture grass on nearly every soil north ol
the fortieth parallel. 1t is tit only fol
pasture; but rs pasture grass it stands
in the very front rank. Like orchart
grass it grows early and late: and lik,
this grass again, it does we'll in tn,
shade. making it a valuable grass fo
woodland pasture. 1t remains greer
and nutritious during the winter.
have seen cattle feasting on it during
winter, where it had not been cropped
late in the summer, and had grown II,
and fallen down. have several time
obtained the very best of feed during
the winter. 1t is said that for stool
food one acre of blue grass is worth on,
acre of corn, and know that it will cos
much less. / believe it to be gooC
plan to have one pasture for summer
grazing, and one for winter grazing
It stands the winter well. Some con
slider it in this quality superior TO any
other grass we have. 1t blossoms early
in the summer. Some grasses with
stand drouth better than it, but it is no