Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-06-20
Pasture and Meadow Grasses.

For pasture, variety of grasses
should be selected adapted to the land
and the purpose of the pasture. limo
thy (Phleum pratepse), is the poorest
of the cultivated varieties of pasture
grasses, as it makes very little leaf
heritage, and after the stems have ma
tured the after-growth or after math is
small. 1t is the best grass for meadows
of any single variety, both for yield
and market, being better suited to
horses than cattle. 1t is among the
poorest for sheep. The best single
grass for pasture is orchard grass (Dac-
tylis clomerata). This is also the ear
Hest, except the small blue grass (Pos
pratensis), so common in old pastures,
Orchard grass is valuable for its prompt
renewal after either cutting or grazing.
and for its permanency, being superior
to timothy in this respect, and not ex-
celled by any,. unless it is red-top
(Agrostis vulgaris), on rich land it viii
furnish a fresh bite in three days. No
other grass is equal to it in this re-
sDeet. Ii should always be allowed to
produce an aftermath before. cold
weathe1 sets in, or the crowns will
freeze and die. The aftermath acts as
a protection, and is necessary in a Geld
climate. 1t will not, however, cut
so readily as either timothy or
clover, owing to the form and tcnacity
of the roots, which are long and
fibrous, and grow in punches. The sod
makes more enriching material than
any other grass. An orchard grass
sod always makes mellow land. as the
roots penetrate to a great depth and
loosen up the sub-soil. The roots of
timothy are small and of shallow
growth, hence are easily thrown out by
frost and make a weak sod. Orchard
grass is not SO well adapted for mead
ows as other varieties. 1t ripens at al
inconvenient time, before the spring
work is finished, and does not produce
so large crop or as good a quality
Unless cut when in blossom it is hard
ard woody. Timothy is much better if
cut when the seed is beginning to form.
Timothy will flourish eithor on dry up
land, or low land if it docs not heave
with the frost, so as. to throw out the
bulbs. Orchard grass is also adapted
to any variety of soils, except very wet
land. Red-top grows well on moist
land, even if it overhows, and it win
also do well on. dry land. 1t makes hay
OF excellent quality, good for any kind
of of stock, being softer in its texture
than either timothy or orchard grass,
and lighter in proportion to the bulk.
1t is next if not equal, to orchard
grass in value for pasture, with the ex-
ception of extreme earliness and quick
renewal after cropping. Colonel r. d.
CurftS. in -ADleriean Agrics1iturist.
"A gentleman sprucely dressed was
standing in front of swell oafe yester-
day, when he was approached by the
ubiquitous bootolack, who inquired;
''Shine?" He was answered in the neg
alive. but. instead of ceasing his impor-
tupities, he put his box on the walk,
and, kneeling down, ssked again:
''Shine?" The gentleman, becoming
somewhat impatient, responded: Il
said no; can't you take no for an an
swer? Nothing abashed, the gamin
retorted: 'sWell, how did You like to
have q man say no when you was q
bootblack, say?'' This was too much,
and he was allowed to 60 TO work
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