GRAYLING INSTITUTE. 287 



In the Country Gentleman for 1883, the same man of wide experience and 

 observation, remarks : " Why it is that farmers are so dull in the use of 

 orchard grass, passes my comprehension, when, on a single trial of its vir- 

 tues, mixed with red clover when sown, equal in proportion for a hay crop, it 

 is better for any class of stock than timothy." 



The following is from the pen of Major H. E. Alvord, of New York, and 

 was written for the Eural New Yorker: 



'' Orchard grass is a variety which has no superior for pasture or hay, and 

 it matures so early that the crop may be easily got out of the way before tim- 

 othy or red top is fit to cut. But orchard grass must have a good strong 

 soil, and can be made most profitable by keeping land thus seeded in sod for 

 a series of years. If cut twice a year or three times, as is often possible, it 

 must be liberally top-dressed. With the land previously in good condition 

 and a well prepared seed-bed, orchard grass is very satisfactory grown by 

 itself. For this purpose, I would sow it as soon as the land can be put in 

 order in the spring, or in the latter part of August, "using at least two bush- 

 els of seed to the acre, put on with the greatest care, as it is a diflficult mate- 

 rial to handle, In 1884, orchard grass was in bloom in May, at Houghton 

 farm, and good hay was made the first week in June. The period of cutting, 

 ^s to maturity of plant, should be regulated according to the use to be made 

 of the hay. It can be cut so as to make hay as fine as any rowen or coarser 

 than any heavy timothy. If a mixture is desired for hay, tall meadow oat- 

 grass and clover are the best for maturing with the orchard grass. Although 

 orchard grass is hardy, furnishes the first green bite in the spring, and the 

 last in the fall, and usually provides good protection with its own after- 

 math, it will winter-kill where not well-covered with snow, if the land is 

 moist. It prefers a location rather high and dry, naturally or artificially well 

 drained." 



As a rule it blossoms but once a year, and then about a month ahead of 

 timothy and red top. 



It is often mentioned as very suitable for growing in the shade, but June 

 grass does as well, comparatively. 



Many cut it too late, when the hay will be of poor quality. 



A farmer should not have too much of it for meadow, because it all comes 

 on at once, and then it should be cut ; the weather often controls the time 

 of cutting. If rainy when the grass is in flower we must wait often a week 

 or more. In such cases most grasses endure the delay better than orchard 

 grass. 



Some object to its use as the seed costs too much, from one to two dollars 

 a bushel, making the seed for an acre cost from two to five dollars. Others 

 sow on stiff, poor soil, where it makes a feeble growth. 



TALL OAT GKASS (ARRHENATHERUM AVEKACEUM). 



Lieutenant Governor Sessions, of Ionia, has given this grass a good trial 

 and reports: " In a very dry season the newly seeded clover and timothy dis- 

 appeared, but the oat grass sown with it grew well. It more than holds its 

 own with clover and timothy. It is rank and early and will seed twice each 

 season. It makes good pasture and good hay and is very prolific. I want a 

 permanent grass, so I have not tried to destroy it." 



The speaker has raised this grass on rather light sandy soil at Lansing, 



