292 



[The last report being confined to blue grass for pastures, 

 this one will be limited to grasses for meadows and the curing 

 of them.] 



Mr. Nelson said that the great interest of this S tate was 

 grazing. It was, too, good for grain growing, but many 

 parts of it were so far from market, that it cost nearly half 

 the value of the grain raised in those parts, to get it to a 

 market. Hence it became an object to raise stock which 

 could take itself there. Even wool can be transported at a 

 small cost, compared with that of hauling grain. Five cents 

 on the dollar's worth will pay for the carriage on wool, but 

 thirty-three cents, or one-third of its value, is required on 

 wheat. Hence the value of grasses, both for meadow and 

 pasturage, for upon them is our chief reliance. The county 

 of Allen was good for sheep as to every other matter, except 

 the growth of the wild parsnip, which was so abundant as 

 rendered it difficult to be eradicated. 



Mr. Williams of Knox remarked that he thought the 

 grasses more profitable than grain. His custom was to sow 

 clover with timothy for meadows, for it kept the gi'ound 

 loose, and all the clover he raised in this way he regarded as 

 clear grain, as its growth did not interfere with that of the 

 timothy. He sowed timothy seed in September, and the 

 following season obtained as good a crop as any subsequently. 

 In clearing off" ground, he sometimes sowed grass immedi- 

 ately, and left it in until the roots of the trees had rotted, using 

 It principally for pasture. In wet lands he sowed red top, 

 which, as it ripened later than clover and timothy, afforded a 

 leisure time in which to cut it. He made wood-land pastures 

 by hauling out hay and feeding on the ground he desired to 

 seed. 



Mr. Murray, of Elkhart, said that the remarks that had 

 been made on this subject were made by gentlemen from the 

 centre and south parts of the State. He lived in the extreme 

 north part, and hence many remai'ks made, he found would 

 not apply there. The tame grasses raised there were timo- 



