Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-05-16
Grasses and Forage Plants.


college, has written the following timely
article on grasses and forage plants:
Tie Washington Agricultural College
and experiment station receives many
inquiries for Information from its con-
stituents. As matter of course these
cover a wide range OF subjects, but il
they were to be classified it would be
found that large per cent of them re-
late in some way to the practical quest
ion OF the growing Of grasses and forage
plants for the central and eastern parts
of the state. These inquiries come to us
in many forms sometimes it is call
for information as to the best methods
OF treating marshy meadow, or reseed-
ing rocky range; occasionally a new
settler wishes to know what plant would
secure profitable growth amid the
stumps of his logged off tract, but often
est the requests are for help to grow per-
manent pastures or meadows and thus
place their live stock interests on more
enduring foundation. For the past two
years a great deal of interest has been
shown in this subject. Without doubt
a very large amount of seed has been
sown and various trials and tests have
been undertaken. Many OF these have
proved successful and the area now de-
voted TO permanent cultivated grasses is
without doubt greater than ever before.
On the other hand, it must be admitted
that there have been serious failures and
there are those who would doubt the
probabilities of ever succeeding in solv-
ing this great problem of the culture
of the grasses and forage plants.
Washington is passing through the
same experience that has been the lot of
every rev state. There has always been
struggle to bring back new land to Gull
tivated grazing plants. The soil, rob
bed OF its native covering OF prairie grass
es, seems to protest against accepting at
once the shelter of new and imported
plants. In addition to this, there is al
ways ignorance as to the adaptibility of
the more common cultivated grasses and
forage plants, and the best methods for
treatment and culture can only be deter.
mined by trial. Without doubt, Wash
ington today makes as good showing
as any prairie state has done in SINH
lar period of its history. l feel safe in
saying that there is as much clover and
blue grass in our state today as could be
found in Iowa 20 years after it's settle
ment, while the area devoted to timo-
thy is vastly greater. With our limited
rainfall some would contend that we can
not hope to equal such states in the pro-
duction OF grasses, yet such views are
not we'll founded. We must remember
that at least two adjustments in the con-
ditions must take place.
First, there must be certain tanning
of the soil, and changes must be brought
about to make it suitable for the growth
of many plants. This is particularly true
In the case of the legumes, clover, alfalfa
and the like, which must have the deyel-
opment in the soil of bacteria suited to
each particular plant. Some of the clo-
vers develop their bacteria quite readily
and thrive exceedingly we'll on that ac-
count. This is particularly trne of al
slke and the common white clover. Red
clover, however, is slower to take hold,
and Tor year or two often presents
sickly appearance. When, however, the
soil once becomes inoculated with the
red clover bacteria. it grows most luxur-
iantly, and will compare favorably with
crops grown under more moist condi-
tions.
In the second place most of our cult
waited plants find that they must change
their character and habits more or less
to suit the new environment in which
they are undertaking to grow. This
takes time, and plants do not change
quickly nor easily. Grasses of the same
name, but found growing in diverse To-
callties often show differences of char
aeter and habits of growth. This has
been observed in more than one instance
with plants growing on the college ex-
pertinent station. Blue grass seed sam
pies secured from different sources show
at first an unlike appearance, which grad
ually disappears and type is evolved
which might be called peculiar to this
region. In order to test this fact with
red clover the station has now growing
number OF plots sown to seed secured