The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-07-23
NO. EATON. OHIO, THURSDAY. JULY 23 1885
OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION.
Bulletin No. S-Notes ON Different Va
risties Of Grasses.

4
OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION.
Bulletin No. S-Notes ON Different Va
rieties Of Grasses.
During the past two years the Ohio Ex-
pertinent Station has tested in small way
over one hundred varieties of pasture,
meadow and lawn grasses
The following notes embody ali the facts
some Of the most widely ctlti-
waited varieties that are of general public
interest:
TIMOTHY, HERDs-GRAss, cATs-TAH =
(Phleum Prdtense.)
This is probably the best known of any
OF ouf cultivated grasses. It is found in
nearly all meadows and PASTURES and Is very
highly esteemed, especially for hay crop
It is more largely cultivated for this pur-
pose in the State Of Ohio than any other
single species.
Timothy was undoubtedly introduced
originally from Europe and wss first extern
sively cultivated by Mr.. Timothy Hanson,
Of Pennsylvania, who introduced it into
England.
; Probably the value Of timothy has been
overrated, and when farmers have become
better acquainted with other species 1t will
not be SO generally cultivated: One teasm
why timothy is such a favorite is that it
seeds abundantly and the seed separates
readily from the chaff or glumes that sur
round it. On this account its purity and
quality can be easily determined. Another
reason Is that it makes fairly good hay if
not cut Until some time after blossoming.
Cutting should not be delayed to6 long;
however, or the value of the crop is very
much lessened thereby. The best time for
harvesting timothy is when about half the
blossoms have turned brown, the upper por-
ton of the spike still remaining purple.
The most serious objections to timothy are
that 1t is of little value for pasturing after
moving, and that it is liable to be injured
by the close feeding of horses Or sheep.
Another objection sometimes urged is that
timothy exhausts the soil.
This is true, but it must be remembered
that nearly all crops exhaust the soil in pro-
portion to their value. A crop that does not
draw on the store of plant food in the soil is
not worth harvesting. In our experiments
timothy appears to be best adapted to moist
loamy ground. It does not do so well upor
either dry, sandy OF gravelly soils, or hard
compact clays. The plots at the Station
grounds on peaty or loamy soils have inva
riably done well. For the past three year.
these plots have been In full bloom abou
July 1st-ready to cut one week later. Rip,
July Goth, with an abundance Of seed
Height S1f feet; weight of seed per meas
ured bushel, 45 pounds.
| RED Top-(Agrostts VaIlgdrts.)
Next to timothy, the ''red top is one o
our best known cultivated grasses. 1t is
perennial native species. and is cultivated Il
Europe under the common name of ''ben
grass" It appears to favor rather mois
soils, and thrives better than most cultivate'
species on cold, sundrained upland.
yields large quantity of hay-rather ligh
in proportion to bulk-but very palatable an
readily eaten. Our plots were in full bloor
June 81. Ripe July 81. Height, 80 inches
Weight Of seed per measured bushel, 10 l.
pounds.
fUNE GRASS OR KENTUCKY BLUE GRAs
-(Poa Prdtensis.)
This species is too well known to requir
any extended description. 1t is found grow
ing native in all.our Northern States, an
thrives best upon limestone soils. 1t reache
its greatest perfection in what is known q
the "blue grass region" of Kentucky.
It varies much according to the soil an
climate. In Ohio it is regarded with muc
more favor in the southern part of the Stat
than it is in the northern. The farmers
Kentucky regard it as the most valuable I
all grasses for hay and pasturage. 1t is or
of the most widely diffused species in IL
world and Is found in greater or less pr,
portion in all the best meadows and pa
lures of Europe as well as America. I
!. chief value is for permanent pastures ar
lawns. Unless in highly favored section
, its growth is rather too short to make
! valuable hay crop. Here on the experimel
grounds it is one of the hardest grasses tn
we have tested. No amount of cold or e
posure seems to injure it. Last year it W,
in full bloom June 1, and the seeds we
fully ripe two weeks later. Height 10
10 inches. Weight of seed per measur,
, bushel. IA pounds.
ORCHARD GRASS OR COCKS FooT-( Ddctyl
;. Glomerdtd.)
This certainly stands near the head of tl
i list of valuable forage grasses. It is rapid
Q coming into favor, and is now quite wide
t disseminated throughout the State. 1t
t found not only in pastures and meadow
t but is admirably adapted to partially shad
9 locations, such as orchards and along rOa
sides. This grass is indigenous to eve
country in Europe and is found in As
Africa and America. In the United Stat
g It was first cultivated in Virginia in II!
9 and was soon thereafter introduced ir
p England. 1t is quite aggressive and spres
!. rapidly, but is very sensitive to good or b
= treatment
oo It is specially adapted to strong, ri
= lands. 1t affords pasturage early in spril
r and yields great amount of aftermath.
!, often looks coarse; but in reality is tend
>, palatable and nutritious The habit of gro
: ing in tufts or punches may be overcome
sowing the seed more thickly, and by
use of the harrow in early spring. So
farmers SOW it with clover, and like it bet
than timothy for the purpose. There
u few who have given this grass a fair,
u partial trial, who are not well pleased witt
Is It should be cut when in blossom, or v
le soon after. Ripe orchard grass makes v
= poor hay. On our trial plots the orch
: grass has not winter-kflled, and has
ID variably yielded larger amount of ca
foliage than any other variety. 1t beg
to head about the middle of May, and |:
full bloom the second week in June. Hei
1t 40 inches. Weight of seed varies from
N to IA pounds per bushel.
= Rich Deposits of Manganese.