The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-23
orchard Grass Has Few Equals.

The Breeders Gazette says; Many eX-
periments have been made with many
kinds of grasses. The oat, rye and fescue
grasses particularly have been persever-
ingiy tried in many sections of this coun-
try and none of them seems to have any
great importance as grasses for meadow
Long continued experiments have been
made both in England and this country
with single grasses ana grasses i'm combi-
nation for the purpose of ascertaining
what was best for meadow, all things con-
sidered, and what was best for pasture
in sections where blue grass did not
spring up spontaneously, and take hold Of
the soil with tenaCity when sOWn, and
the verdict in most cases has been given
TO red clover and orchard grass for mead
ow, with other grasses added for pasture.
Orchard grass and red clover blossom
together, are ready to cut at the same
time and yield heavily. Orchard grass
will catch and do well on a great variety
of soils. Orchard grass will grow in the
spring almost as quick as rye, and in sea-
sons of great dryness, after being moved
or grazed il will make a second growth,
where most other grasses viii be a rest,
and close grazing after becoming cstab-
lished does not discourage it.
Said an advocate of orchard grass:
About Aug. l, turned my
horses on piece of orchard-grass meadow
which had been moved at the usual time.
The aftermath presented blades twelve to
fifteen inches long, green, luXuriant and
most nutritious. For two months there had
been nothing worthy to be called ram.
Oats will not be half a crop and corn
makes no promises; fruit trees are suffer
ing, gardens have come to nothing and
blue grass has not tint of green and fair
L. .f,afrI he
from frost. Yet this orchard-grass mea-
dow stiN affords good pasture Aug. %.
He further says: My observation and
experience have induced me to rely main
ly on orchard grass and red clover. These
grasses mixed make the best OF hay. II
is very nutritious.
Many object TO orchard grass because 1t
grows in tufts, it is difficult to get 1t 20
cover the ground evenly. A great deal
more is made of this objection than 1t is
entitled TO- A few points carefully obserV-
ed in its cultivation will reduce this objec-
ton to pretty near nothing.
Prepare a perfect seed-bed; be generous
in sowing the seed. The seed must be good.
Sow two bushels of good seed to the acre.
Cross sow with four quarts of red clover;
bush it in lightly but thoroughly and roll
IT, Some time in August when the land
is dry turn your whole stock into il and
let il be eaten off smoothly, and then let
not a hoOf touch it until after hrst crop
of hay has been taken from il. The seeding
should be done in the spring as soon as the
ground car be thoroughly prepared. Sown
upon rye or winter wheat upon a hght
snow in March it works fine some times.
Hay obtained from a meadow established
in this way cut when some of the clover
heads are turning brown, cured as much
as possible in small cocks, secured with
out rain will meet with warm appreciation
by any four-legged creature that inhabits
your stable.
If you have a horse that needs rest and
a paradise TO repay him for past service
give him the range of such an orchard
grass meadow. green with luXuriant al
termath, and he will tell you as plainly as
a fun stomach, well covered ribs and light
heels can, that he fully appreciates it,