North Park union., 1902-03-07
About The Grass Ques-
tion In North Park


loguss on most every ranch 10 the
Park, but can sec nothing IN the
Union about tho grass question Of
tho Park, which tho editor of our
home paper tired TO encourage some
time ago.
To my idea, It Is the most import
ant question for North Park, and 1t
would be Of general benefit II every
body would take interest In it who
owns an acre Of land or = garden
spot. We all are fully aware OF the
fact, that tho native grasses are on
tho decline. Every individual ranch
man knows he don't cot 81 much hay
on the samo place he did five years
ago, eveu.if he does not like to ad-
nit It. And not only this, but the
land gets more aud moro moossy and
the grass inferior.
stated this fact to many ranch
men who cama along and was often
told; "You irrigate too much" l
tried that thing last year carefully
with about 10 or IL acres on the
last part Of my ditch whore l could
handle the water with perfect con-
troll. I irrigated when ever thought
Il needed 1t. The result was; Tho
grass was getting ripo sooner and
was much shortcr-but the ground
still damp-consequcntly less hsy on
the ground wot continually, till near
haying time.
1t might be alright II man have
Gimothy in hls meadow also. Timo-
thy don't need near % much water as
wild grass does, and as 1t grows
much higher it will shade tho native
grass, which surely will make 1t flour
ish. All nsSvo grass will grow high
ar and is more succulcnt whom shell
tered from wind, frost and sun, Int
to accomplish the best result the
stand OF timothy ought to be not
more than ono fourth think. but a
native meadow should have water
continually. or nearly 80, TO be sure
ofa good crop of hay. I sent in the
spring OF 1900, 10 John A. Saltzer
Seed Co, Wis, for Alsikc, Bromus
Inermis, Fowl meadow grass, Rod
Top, Alfalfa, Australian Salt Bush--
ono pound OF each. except Salt Bush,
,nly paper / planted all in my
yarden, one row Of each kind, result:
Alsiko frost killed; Alfalfa very sick
ly; Bromus In0rmis. excellent Fowl
| meadow grass | planted in come
swamp land, never came up Red
Top did fine; Salt Bush frost killed.
From all the grasses, the best WAS
Bromus. This fall it was three feet
high, with an immense ounch of
green, bushy leaves. I think it
would be tho grass for tho Park, be-
side timothy and red top; then frost
never will kill II and | am certain
make more hay than timothy or red
top, and according TO the experiment
stations 1t 10 more nutritious than
either ofthe two and will try one
acre Of IL this spring. There Is no
doubt that alfalfa could be raised in
many localities in tho Park. | will
plant some also on sono sheltered
places. But Bromus would only he
good for new land where II could be
narrowed in ss the seed is chafy and
light and would mover start in a mead
ow, but there will be timothy
and red top as the best grass To re-
plenish an old meadow, If tho moose
/ is not too thick for the seed to start.
do not think the moose on tho mead
ow is the direct result from too much
irrigation, as there will be moose even
IL tho land is poorly irrigated. /
think It is more from the land getting
poor, all the fertility being thrown
out OF 1t by forcing the same kind Of
grsss to its utmost for year after
year by irrigation No plant will
stand forever, and iii gets the nour-
Ishment all destroyed, and homo be
supplied, it will starvc. often have
gone out on my upland meadow,
where l found plenty Of dead grass.
In about two years, there would be
some other kind OF grass, II any, bui
inferior or often only common weeds
replace the spot. That means the
grass can't live there longer The
soil is too poor for It's kind. I dom
think II needs Professor. II nat
H.. .-z~L. - r1.ia nrk nat IL