Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-07-21
SOME FARMING MATTERS.
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT
FARM, FIELD AND GARDEN.
Tanning Wild Grasses--Sex OF Poul-
try at VIII Making Timothy
Hay--One Hundred
Per Cent Pro- ~
fit.
Tanning Wild Grasses.

Bessey, OF the Nebraska Experiment
Station, in a recent article in the
American Agriculturist. He suggests
that it is by no means likely that we
have reached the limit OF possibility
in the Improvement OF wild grasses
tanning them, as all the cultivated
grasses now known have been tanned,
by selection, cultivation, adoption to
soils, etc,
lie reminds us that it is not very
long ago that timothy, red-top, or
chard grass and Kentucky blue grass
were in q wild state. The first named
in fact, came into vogue only about a
hundred and thirty years ago, and
the others have been scarcely more
than a century under cultivation.
The same is true ofthe grains, although
the date OF their tanning" is OF course
much more romantic. De Candolle
thinks the native habitat ofthe wheat
plant has been discovered, and Indian
corn once grew wild, whether in Asia
or America is point on which au-
thorities differ.
1t is therefore very reasonable
suggestion that what has been done
may he done again IN the way OF re-
deeming wild grasses from their saw
age state and making them more sub
serVient 10 the use of man than they
now are. Prof. Bessey has done well
to call attention to the subject. and
to point out the method OF expert
menting with wild grasses so as most
directly to reach the desired result.
The points OF most Importance to
be kept in mind when making these
experiments are as follows: First, be
sure that the species is adapted to
the locality in which it is intended to
be grown; second, find out by expert
ment whether it is a variety that will
be eaten with relish by even a well-fed
beast; third, it should be determined
whether it is capable OF being success
fully grown under cultivation, and
finally, whether it can be easily pro-
pagated.
II these points can be so far
determined as to indicate that the
plant is worthy OF further trial, its
nutritive value may be asCertained
| by chemical analysis, and the process
| OF improvement may be entered upon
with a good basis for hope that
useful plant will be developed. The
process OF improvement consists
simply in the selection OF seeds from
the best specimens growing wild,
subjeCting them to the most favorable
conditions OF growth, selecting seeds
again from the best specimens, and so
on for number OF years, until salts
factory development OF plant and
seed has been attained. The process
may be FASTENED by high cultivation
and by the choice OF good strong
soil the experimental plantation.
( This is a fascinating as well as use
! iul undertaking. for what could more
/ surely awaken the interest stimulate
/ the curiosity OF Il bright-minded, in
/ tclliCent farmer than to watch the
/ progress OF these wild den zens of
meadow and plain toward a higher and
more useful life, under the tuition Ofhis
own mind and hand. And lie would
have before him also the noble stimu-
lus OF being recognized, should he
succeed, as Il benefaCtOr OF mankind;
for il he is one who causes two blades
OF grass to grow where one grew be-
fore, surely the discoverer OF a new
and useful variety is entitled to equal
ii not greater honor.
Without attempting to suggest par
ticuIar species Of wild grasses for ex-