The Grit-advocate., 1900-11-16
MATTkRS OF INTEREST
AORICULTURIST
Some Up-to-Dato Hints About Cultiva-
taod of the Soil and Yields Thereof
HORTICULTURE, vitinulturs and Florioul-
tuFe.
English Blue-arass in the West.

0cduo" leSCue, having TalSeQ IL On
. larger scale, than perhaps any other
man in the middle west. At the re-
quest Of Secretary F. D. Coburn he
has written an account of his expert
-snce, which appears in a recent report
OF the Kansas department of agricul-
ture. Extracts from his article fol-
low:
This grass has a two-fold value: for
It's seed crop and for pasturage-the
relative Importance of each being de-
termined by the view and interest of
the grower. The seed crop brings
early cash, and it is for seed that the
grass is chiefly grown in Kansas. It's
heaviest yields are given in the first
three or four years, which run from
six to twelve bushels per acre, accord.
ing to soil and season. Kansas Is be-
he1ed to produce seventy-hve per cent
OF The seed crop Of this country, and
at least ninety per cent of the total
crop OF the United States is sent
abroad. On any lands fairly adapted
Tor corn Tin eastern Kansas) it can
Dc advantageously grown; but on
light, whitish soil, it does not show
strong vitality nor resist extreme dry
weather, and is brief lived
The ground should be plowed some
me before seeding las for wheat)
mat 1t may settle, but il freshly
proved can be improved by going over
II with float. The best state of tilth
attalnable is highly important. The
neerer the ground can be made like
garden, and the more even and level
oefore drilling in or sowing the seed,
tne better majority favor drilling,
out other very successful growers SOW
broadcast and harrow.in lightly; and
some fall plant, while others prefer
sne spring for seeding. l favor the
rail-. II the ground can be prepared and
rains sufficiently moisten the soil by
september l to Is, but am aware that
ample moisture can be expected in the
spring and, therefore. good stand
u surer. But a fall start brings a
SEED crop year sooner, and the grass
ssts dominant in advance OF noxious
vegetation. 1t is not easily winter
Killed II the fall is not unfavorable
and the ground was early plowed. l
90 not like the hoe-drill SO well as a
shoe-drill, nor the eight-inch so we'll
- the six-inch-apart drill rows, though
some have used the former with salts
faetory results.
The quantity planted per acre varies
from peck to three pecks when pro-
ductng seed is the paramount object,
and from three pecks to bushel and
upwards when pasture alone is sought.
A half-bushel per acre when seed crops
| are the first consideration and it is
drilled in, is enough on rightly pre-
pared ground, for then every seed is
covered; If showers follow narrowing
In, almost every seed will sprout and
take root. An inch is ample depth to
| drill, and, II the ground surface is uni
formly leveled, scarcely any OF the
seed is put too deep. When har-
rowed in, the harrow should be set to
run as for millet and similar light
seed. The seed should be cleaned and
freed from cheat and weed seed, IL
possible, before planting. Fescue is
ready for cutting for seed right after
wheat, with the self binding harvester,
ana ls shocked as are wheat and oats.
The bundles are somewhat ragged in
ap rance and bulky at the butts
BECAUSE Of the heavy blade growth,
the straw of which is valuable winter
feed for cattle. 1t is stacked or
thrashed out of the shock by the regu-
lar thrasher men and the cost nor