Year: 1863

I u
chickens. 1t got start in the gar
den before plowing in spring, and
troubled me much. So much for the
time Of sowing and the results. Now
the different kinds Of grasses adapted
to culture in our State.


To some extent we want variety,
bnt I consider timothy the great sta
pie, both for hay and pasture. 1t is
said that "Cotton is King" in the
United States, but the statistics from
Helpers book, show that the article Of
hay is far ahead of cotton but tOreturn.
For meadow, / like timothy with lit>
tie clover; not too much, for l find
that clover here gains on the timothy,
and if too much gets the ascendency !;
but there is an advantage in having
some clover in a meadow. For in
case of a dry season, the clover roots
run SO deep, and the top shades the
ground so thoroughly, that it pro-
tects it from the hot sun, and pre-
vents it from baking, to some extent.
But for pasture, in my estimation,
timothy exceeds all other grasses,
both in amount of feed, and in amount
of nourishment afforded to stock
Glover for hay and for pasture affords
great amount of feed, but is more
difficult to secure, and not SO nourish-
ing when obtained.


Blue grass is of little use for hay,
but is valuable to some extent, for
pasture. 1t starts very early in the
spring, and is excellent for winter
pasture, especially when left without
feeding or moving in summer.


Red top is a good grass, and mixed
with timothy and little clover makes
excellent hay, (say first rate, and
has this advantage-it is well adapted
to ravines and moist lands, and can
stand without suffering, till after the
usual haying and harvesting season.
1t makes good pasture, and is on the
whole valuable grass. The Hunga'
rian grass, as it is called, has had its
day, and in our region is considered
among the things that were.


A few words now in regard to keep
ing meadows good, and preventing
them from running out, as it is term
ed, One cause of this is--the blue
grass is very apt to work in, and when
this is the case, it chokes out the 9TH
er grasses, and it may as well be
plowed up and worked till it is worked
out. Blue grass will kill out every
thing it comes in contact with, wheth'
it be other grasses, weeds, vines,
hedges, or fruit trees.


My plan has been to use my manure
TO a great extent on my meadows, by
hauling out and spreading it in the
fall-making it as fine as possible
The rain carries it down to the roots
of the grass, where it is made availa~
BILE the coming spring-producing a
vigorous growth, and insuring good
crop. The effects of a good dressing
will last for many years. I have
found it to double the crop in one
year. And by taking piece at
time, according to the amount of ma
nure available, meadows may be kept
good. Any kind of litter will answer
the purpose->uch as straw, stack bot
toms, &c.-anything that will protect
the roots of the grass from the hot
sun, and retain moisture, will have an
admirable effect.


In speaking of the comparative
value of the different kinds of grasses
for pasture, l have noticed several facts.
One is, that stock in summer will eat
but little blue grass, unless it is fed
close enough to prevent it from head
ing up. Another fact-stock pastur-
ed on timothy, if not oVerstocked, al
ways get fat. have large pasture,
part of which has been in cultiva.
ton, another part in blue grass, an.
other part in white clover and wild
grasses. While that which has been
in cultivation, is now in timothy, and
is fed down to the ground, that part
in white clover is in full blossom, and.
the ground as white as sheet, and
remains untouched. To my mind this
fact shows the comparative value of
the different grasses named, both for
hay and pasture. There is another
fact which l have also noticed, and
that is, that horses and colts pastured
on clover, always drule and slObber
badly, and fall away in flesh, which is
not the case when pastured on timothy
alone.


In conclusion, I will say, that the
cultivation of the best grasses in con-
nection with laisiug stock of the best
kinds. (instead of raising so much
grain to sell, or for fattening stock, }
and let it carry itself to market with
out hauling, would soon add greatly to
the present wealth of Iowa.