Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-05-31
Pasture and Meadow Grasses.

a variety OF grasses Is best Tor pas
lures, so that there may be continu>
GUS growth. The seeds of grasses as
well as of other seeds, when buried at
such depth that they do not terminate,
remain dormant for long time, and
will grow when brought by tillage near
the surface. There is always more or
less self-saeding, as the earth is filed
with seeds which have accumulated
and only waiting favorable conditions
to show themselves. 1t is not always
necessary to SOW such a variety of grass
in order to have such sort represented
in pasture, but of course a variety
is more certainly secured by SO dong.
If the soil is made rich before seeding,
it will help to increase the yield of self.
seeded grasses. Making the surface
smooth and fine will also aid in bring>
ing out the latent roots.
For pasture, variety of grasses
sho uld be selected adapted to the land
and the purpose of the pasture. Tim
othy is the poorest of the cultivated
varieties of pasture grasses, as it makes
very little leaf heritage, and after the
stems have matured the after growth
Or after math is small. 1t is the best
grass for meadows Of any single varies
ty, 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, This is also the earliest, except
the small blue grass, so common in old
pastures, dooryards and along the high
ways. Orchard grass is valuable for
its prompt renewal, after either cutting
or grazing, and for its permanency, be-
ing superior to timothy in this respect,
and not excelled by any, unless it is
red top. On rich land it will furnish
q fresh bite in three days. No other
grass is equal to it in this respect. 1t
should always be allowed to produce
an after math before cold weather sets
liz, or the crowns will freeze and die.
The after math is a protection and is
necessary in cold climate. 1t will
not, however, cut so readily as either
timothy or clover, owing to the form
and tenacity 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 great depth
and loosen up the subsoil. The roots
Of timothy are small and of shallow
growth, hence are easily thrown out by
frost and make weak sod.
Orchard grass is not 30 well adapted
for meadows as other varieties. 1t
ripens at an inconvenient time, before
the spring work is finished, and does
not produce so large crop or 80 good
a quality. Unless cut when in BIOS
som it is hard and woody. Timothy is
much better if cut when the seed is be-
ginning to form.
Timothy will thrive either on dry
upland or low land If it does 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 il overAows, and it will
also do we'll on dry land. 1t makes
hay Of excellent quality, good for any
kind of stock, being softer in its tex
ture than either timothy or orchard
grass, and lighter in proportion to the
bulk. 1t is next, if not equal, to or
chard grass for pasture, with the excep
ton of extreme earliness and quick re.
newal after cropping.