Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-29

IOl N0t2Wl St4E.,
S.
Grasses for HAY and Pastures.
The best mixture Of grass seeds de-
ponds upon soil and climate and the
farmers needs, says Mirror and Farm
er. More regard should also be paid
to the succession of blooming Of the
different varieties that may be sown,
though this point was long since en-
phasized by Flint. Mr.. +. Lamson
Scribner, chief Of the grass division Of
the department of agriculture and one
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
best 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. Its
clean appearance, even growth, fair
productiveness, and easy propagation
make 1t favorite 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; 1t Is alike good for hay and pas
turage. Where the soil is moist, but
deep and strong, the large fescue (Fes-
tuca arundinaceD 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-
garded as equal If not superior to tim
othy. It has serious fault, however,
Of growing in punches or tussocks. 1t
Is not turf former. and when cult
vated the seed should be sown thickly,
and 1t Is good plan to add some other
species as filler. This Objectionable
habit of orchard grass may be over
come In 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-
tlveness Is very large. It will make
fair turf If we'll cared for, and NAV
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 produce
tive than other sorts. The REQUIRE
ments OF good hay grass are produc-
tiveness. hardness and adaptability to
the soil. 1t must also be nutritious.
rich In f1esh-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 redtop
and species OF fescue, quite productive.
and by many is very highly esteemed.
1t Is recommended in all mixtures
compounded for the production of con-
tlnuous heritage through the season.
Kentucky bluegrass is good turf
former and good pasture grass where
the land Is rich, but does best upon
strongly calcareous or limy soils. It
Is the grass which has made the pas
lures OF portions OF Kentucky and
Tennessee so justly famous. English
bluegrass is a 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 it's productiveness is scarce
~ inferior to that of Kentucky blue
grass, and it is equally tender and nu-
tritious. 1t makes very firm sod, and
withstands the tramping of stock bet
ter than many other kinds. The Gull
tivation of this grass in certain nor
lions Of Virginia has changed poverty
stricken districts to areas Of wealth
and prosperity. This has been ef-
fected by the cultivation of this Eng
llsh bluegrass and the raising Of dairy
stock. Lowland pastures should al
ways contain redtop in some of it's
varieties. 1t makes the cleanest,
incest looking and sweetest turf Of any
grass know. The fine-leafed yar,e.
ties should be selected for cultivation
in pastures. Meadow fescua ia q ,ral,,