The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-09-04


of the best experts on grasses, in one
OF his admirable addresses made these
very practical points: The best wild
or native hay grasses are blue joint,
fowl meadow grass, species OF ely
ceria, and one of the Muhlenbergias
or drop seeds" These are valuable
in the order named, and often afford
IN our low-lying meadows large bulk
OF native hay of excellent quality.
Like other species of grasses, they re-
spond readily to good treatment. Tim
othy. meadow fescue, orchard grass,
rye grass and redtop are the chief and
pest known of the cultivated or So
called tame" grasses for the produc-
ton Of hay. In the markets timothy
is the recognized standard by which
the value of other grasses is estimated.
1t is the farmers gold coin, although
1t does not appear to me to be equal in
some respects to other varieties. It's
clean appearance, even growth, fair
| productiveness, and easy propagation
make it a favoTite grass The presence
OF meadow fescue indicates good soil.
and upon well-drained clayey land it
is one of the best grasses we can culti-
vate; it is alike good for hay and pas
| turage. Where the soil is moist, but
deep and strong, the large fescue GTes-
| tuca arundinacea) may be cultivated.
! 1t is one OF the most productive of hay
grasses. Almost equally productive on
| soils suitable to it is orchard grass,
and by many of our farmers this is re-
! 4aI z -
othy. 1t has serious fault, however,
Of growing in punches or tussocks. 1t
IS not turf former, and when cult
Tated the seed should be sown thickly,
and it is good plan to add some other
species as filler. This Objectionable
habit of orchard grass may be over
come in a measure by heavily rolling
the fields in early spring. Were it not
for this tussock-forming habit, or
chard grass would make one of the
best OF grasses for pastures, because of
the early production of tender leaves.
Rye grass, so popular in England, has
never come into much favor here. al
though 1t is usually recommended as
an ingredient for mixtures designed
for permanent pasture. On very rich
soils, where the ground is fairly moist
and the atmosphere humid, its produc-
tiveness is very large 1t will make
fair turf If well cared for, and may
be used alone for lawns, but not in
mixtures. Red top is one of the finest
and best of our hay grasses, especially
for low meadows, but is less produc-
tive than other sorts. The require
ments OF good hay grass are produce
tiveness, hardness and adaptability to
the soil, 1t must also be nutritious
rich in hesh-forming elements, and
possessing little fiber, and must be
palatable to stock Our pasture grasses
are more numerous than those which
yield us hay. The most important
kinds are meadow foxtail, Kentucky
bluegrass, English bluegrass Poa
compressa), certain varieties of redton
and species Oh fescue, quite productive
and by many is very highly esteemed
1t is recommended in all mixturas
compounded for the production of con-
tinuous heritage through the season
Kentucky bluegrass is a good tnrf
former and good pasture grass where
the land is rich, but does best upon
strongly Calcareous or limy soils II
is the grass which has made the mas
lures of PORTIONS of Kentucky and
Tennessee 50 justly famous. English
bluegrass Is better pasture grass for
light sandy soil than Kentucky blue- |
grass. 1t will grow on soils so thin
and poor that little else will grow. On
good land its prUductiveness is scarce
ly inferior to that of Kentucky hlue-
grass, and 1t is equally tender and nu-
tritious. 1t makes a very firm sod. and |
Withstands the tramping of stock bet |
ter than many other kinds. The cul- |
tivatiOn of this grass in certain nor
tions of Virginia has changed poverty
stricken districts to areas of wealth !
and prosperity. This has been eff
fected by the cultivation of this Eng
lish bluegrass and the raising of dairy |
stock Lowland pastures should al
ways contain redtop IN some of its
varieties. It makes the cleapest
incest looking and sweetest turf of anv
grass know. The fine-leafed varie.
ties should be selected for cultivation
in pastures. Meadow fescue is a vain
able pasture grass, as already init
mated, where the soil is good: and On
sandy soils red fescue is perhaps one
of the best species we can cultivate
assoclating with it English bluegrass