SECRETARY'S REPORT. 87 



found light and weak compared with Timothy, and so failing to fulfil 

 the undue expectations excited, it fell too far below a just estimate. 

 Another objection to its use for hay, is its habit of growth, being a 

 jungle grass, and when mixed with others, standing in tussocks 

 above the general surface, and so renders the sw;ird uneven and not 

 easy for smooth mowing. For meadows, it is best by itself, and seed 

 enough should be sown to have the plants cover the whole surface 

 and make an even sward. Its cultivation, however, as a meadow 

 grass, is still extensive in some of the middle states, where it is by 

 many preferred to Timothy to mix with clover on account of its 

 earlier ripening, being in the best stage for cutting at the same time 

 as the clover. There seems to be little doubt that it might be more 

 extensively introduced to advantage among us, especially as a useful 

 auxiliary in grazing and soilmg. It is an early grass, starting with 

 the first warmth of spring and affording a good bite sooner than 

 almost any other. It is of unusually rapid growth, no one exceed- 

 ing it in the quickness and vigor with which it shoots forth after 

 being cut or eaten off, and it continues to grow until the ground 

 freezes. It aflbrds a good supply of foliage, the leaves being nu- 

 merous, and if allowed to grow, reaching a height of two feet or more, 

 with comparatively few flowering stems or seed stalks. It bears 

 drouth better than other grasses, remaining green and vigorous 

 when many others are dried up. and its roots being near the surface 

 it is refreshed and invigorated by showers which produce no effect 

 on clover. It is also one of the most permanent of grasses, being 

 very tenacious of life when once fairly established. Orchard grass 

 is less exhausting than Timothy, will bear considerable shade, suc- 

 ceeds well on all tolerably dry, friable soils of medium quality, and 

 is said to be particularly adapted to those of a slaty character. 



Judge Buel says of it — " Orchard grass is one of the most abiding 

 grasses we have. * * Its early and rapid growth and its resist- 

 ance of drouth render it peculiarly adapted to pasture, but all agree 

 that to obtain its greatest value it should be kept closely cropped. 

 Sheep will pass over every other grass to feed upon it. * * In 

 •July, I made a movable calf-pen thirteen feet square, in which two 

 calves ten and twelve weeks old were confined in a field of Orchard 

 grass. Tiie pen was removed twice a day on to fresh feed, and the 

 grass uniformly fed close. The growth was so rapid that the feeding 



