The silver star., 1897-08-05

different varieties
that may be sown.
though this point was long since en-
phasized by Flint. Mr.. F. 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, a species Of Gly-
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-
tion 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 Q'es-
tuca arundinacea) may be cultivated.
1t is one Of the most productive of hay
grasses. Almost equally productive on
soils suitable to 1t Is orchard grass,
and by many of our farmers this is re-
garded as equal II not superior to tim
othy. 1t has serious fault, however,
Of growing In punches or tussocks. 1t
is not turf former. and when culti-
vated the seed should be sown thickly,
and 1t is good plan to add some other
species as a filler. This Objectionable
habit Of orchard grass may be over
come In q measure by heavily rolling
the fields In early spring. We're 1t 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. 30 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 il very large. 1t will make
fair turf II we'll 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 produc-
tiveness. hardness and adaptability to
the soil. 1t must also be nutritious.
rich In flesh-forming elements. and
possessing little aber. 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. Kentuckv
bluegrass. English bluegrass (Poa
compressa). certain varieties Of redtop
and species OF fescue. quite productive.
and BY many Ii very highly esteemed.
It u recommended In all mixtures
compounded for the production of con-
tinuous herbage through the season.
Kentucky bluegrass 10 good turf
former and good pasture grass where
the land II rich, but does best upon
strongly calcareous or limy soils. II
10 the grass which has made the mas.
lures Of portions Of Kentucky ana
Tennessee 20 Justly famous. English
bluegrass II . better pasture grass for
light sandy soil than Kentucky blue
grass. It will grow on soils 80 thin
and poor that little else will grow. ON
good land its productiveness il scarce
ly inferior to that Of Kentucky blue
grass. and It IL equally tender and nu-
tritious. II makes very nrm sod, and
withstands the tramping Of stock bet
ter than many other kinds. The cuI-
ttvation Of this grass In certain nor
ttons Of Virginia has changed poverty
stricken districts to areas Of wealth
and prosperity. This has been ef-
fected by the cultivation Of this Eng
lish bluegrass and the raising Of dairy
stock. L0wland pastures should al
ways contain redtop In some OF it's
varieties. Il makes the cleanest,
incest looking and sweetest turf Of any
grass I know. The ine-leafed varie.
ties should be selected for cultivation
In pastures. Meadow fescue IL . valu-
able pasture grass. - already ipti-
mated. where the soil 10 good; and ON
sandy soils red fescue ID perhaps one
OF the hAnk nnAclea "a oan c,,Itlvst D..