Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-01-28

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5SOle a century ago at the base
of the Allegheny Mountains by Thomas
Con, the great-grandfather OF the
writer, while returning from an over
land trip 10 New York City. He saw
the grass growing in little open space
at the foot Of mountain. While he
halted for rest he noted its surprising
beauty and the greediness with which
his horse fed upon It's juicy blades
and was influenced thereby TO cut q
few sods with his pocket knife, which
were carefully rolled up and trans
ported in Old-fashiOned saddle pockets
to Kentucky. The sOds were trans
planted near his home and fiOurished
and by carefully garnering the seed
each year, together with its natural
spread from the roots, the grass soon
covered area enough for a pasture
the first of its kind ever seen by man.
Near, the same time when Mr.. CON
started his bluegrass pasture Captain
Isaac Cunningham, another Kentucky
stocRman, was travelling through Mary
land, and CHANGED to see a small plat
of bluegrass growing wild. He, too,
was struck with its beauty, and the
season being appropriate, gathered
some of the seed, brought it back to
Kentucky with him, and soon had blue
grass pastures waving ABOUT Ills nome.
But while these pioneer stOcknen
| got their foundation stock OF bluegrass
from other States there is absolutely
no question that the grass is native to
the soil of Kentucky and had they
made a little search might have found
it waving in primeval glory not far
distant from their homes. In fact,
many versed in Kentucky lore claim
that the grass got its name from Blue
Licks, celebrated watering place and
summer resort. The pioneers came
very early TO the famous mineral
springs Of this place. and it is claimed
that when they made their earliest
visits there the bluegrass was found
growing luxuriantly and abundantly in
all places where the forest was open
enough to let the sun shine inland the
buffalo, deer and elk, which frequented
the Licks, fed upon il with great relish.
Never having seen the grass before
and noting how well it thrived in this
vicinity, the pioneers came to know it
as Blue Licks grass, which in time was
shortened into blue grass.
Other authorities have cOntended
that the grass gets its name from the
blue limestone, which is the surface
rock in that section of Kentucky where
it thrives best, and still others claim
that it gets its name from its color,
which is dark blush green, and eSpe-
it grows in the shade.
Not only is bluegrass native TO Ken
lucky, but also to several neighboring
States. Such being the case, some may
question the propriety of calling it
Kentucky bluegrass. Andyet Kentucky
was the first to discover its beauty and
utility and herald its virtues TO the
wNTld. In other words, Kentucky
made the grass famous, and the grass
made Kentucky famous, and the names
of the two are inseparabie. AS the
name of Columbus is linked with Amer.
fca, and America entwined with the
name OF its discOverer, so Kentucky's |
name must be forever associated with |
bluegrass. 1t discovered the grass, it |
named the grass and spread its fame |
to the remotest parts or the earth and !
it is entirely appropriate that Ken
lucky should wear its laur6ls as the
bluegrass State"
While bluegrass grows in nearly ev-
cry portion of Kentucky, even among |
the toughest mountains, it grows best
in the central portion of the State, |
which part IS generally known as the |
bluegrass regiOn"-the beauty of
which and its fame as q stOck-raising
country are as wide as the realm of
civilization. And many of its great |
breeding farms have regulations which
go beyond the limits of the continent
The bluegrass region" proper com
prlses an area of about fifty square
miles; the soil being built upon beds of
blue limestone is very fertile, and just
suited to make the grass reach its
highest perfection. While it may -four
ish on other soils, it loves a limestone
soil the best.
The chief qualities which recommend
bluegrass are: ~ Beauty; no other
grass can compare with it in this re-
gard. C2) Hardness; it grows and
blooms by the wayside, among prOtrud-
ing rocks, beneath spreading trees and
in sunlit fields all the year round.
Even in cold weather it thrives, COM
N IA NH, |
ing fresh and green. 81 Grazing quail
tiles; perhaps no other grass can en-
dure such constant grazing and yet
flourish. 1t is next to impossible TO
destroy its sod where its hold is firm
by grazing. True, sometimes the grass
is eaten into the very ground itself,
and yet given even scant opportunity
it comes up smiling and but little the
worse for wear. In the bluegrass re-
giOn," as in other places, sometimes
reckless farmers pillow their fields until
the soil almost disappears and then
turn them out TO recruit IS best they
may, but-llke a faithful friend blue
grass never fails to come back, even
without mans aid, and after n lapse of
time carpets cover tneSe waste places
and make them green again. a Gapa-
bility of withstanding drOuth; in the {
thinnest limestone soils, where the rock
is very near the surface, the heat of
Is so severe ut times as to '
parch all grass grown thereon, and 9
This Parching usually Kills everything
except the bluegrass, which never fails c
10 sprout again after the first rainfall. t
% Its fertilizing powers; no soil grows :
bluegrass but becomes better the longer
t grows. While it is not ranked as a
nitrogen gathering plant, every farmer :.
Knows its virtues as a sol! restorative,
md especially is it valuable on hillside ;.
and where it's tufts or roots not only
prevent washing but hold well all !
which may lodge against them. 80 Its ,