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•w^j CULTIVATION OP GRASSES. 



rai'k h:iy for liorsos if well curcnl. Still, for neat cattle alone, we do not think that it 

 makes as good hay as lied Top. Yet, where Timothy and Kcd Top are grown 

 together, we think it far preferable for horses, or market hay, than where Timothy 

 is grown alone; and if a little fine Clover is mixed with Timothy and IJed Top, wo 

 think it will still he improved as market hay. But then Timothy grows hut once a 

 voar when it is mowed, there being very little rowen or aft<'r-inatli, mdess in low, moist 

 ground. Here this grass is very apt to grow up in separate tufts or bunches, and not 

 sward the ground over close, as is the case with Red Top. All farmers know that in 

 the bc^t cultivated meadows this grass is very apt to grow up in this way year after 

 vear without sowing the ground over in a close sward, unless it is in a low swale of 

 moist ground. Here, on clean Timothy lands, after the third or fourth mowing, the 

 crop will begin to fall short, so that in order to keep up the yield of hay the gi-ound 

 must be broken up and re-seeded. But if the grass is of Timothy and Red Top grown 

 together, as it should be, then the meadows will hold out much longer in growing a 

 good crop, as the Red Top forms a sward, and then breaking up need not be resorted 

 to as often. When Timothy and Red Top are grown together, generally a finer and 

 better crop of hay is made than Timothy alone, which, in strong ground, will grow up 

 coarse and large. 



Clover. — Clover grass is one of the best grasses for enriching a soil that is culti- 

 vated in our country. It also makes good hay, if well cured ; yet there is always a 

 good deal of uncertainty about making it into good hay. As a crop for hay we con- 

 sider it the least valuable in this respect ; but as a crop for plowing under, or feeding 

 off by cattle, no crop of grass can begin to enrich the soil like Clover. Much has 

 been said and written in regard to plowing under a crop of Clover as a green dress- 

 ing, or feeding it off by cattle. Both ways are good, and both have their advantages. 

 If a soil is to be renovated in the shortest possible time, we think it can be done best 

 by plowing under one or two green crops of Clover when in full bloom. If a longer 

 course is wanted, the best way is to feed off the crop by cattle through the season. 

 Thi-s grass, unlike many other kinds, will continue to grow up through the whole sea- 

 son as many times as it is fed off. The better way is, where a large crop of Clover 

 has covered the land thick, and when it is in full bloom, turn in as much stock as will 

 feed it down in the shortest time. Managed in this way, very little old grass will be 

 left to dry up, but all will be fed down together ; and then a new crop will be 

 constantly growing through the whole season. The roots of Clover grass extend a 

 great way into the soil, and they are very enriching — much more so than any other 

 grass we know of — so that it has become a proverb among impro^-ing farmers, that 

 when they can get Clover to grow well on their farms, they can grow anything else. 

 The roots of Clover strike deep into the soil, so that when it gets well rooted it will 

 stand a great drouth. 



For " lawns, or private grounds," connected with country residences, we think a 

 mixture of Red Top, White Clover, and Blue Grass, sown together, would make a 

 covering for grounds of this character. What such grounds want is a covering 

 ass in the shortest possible time, and one that will form a close, tight sward. 



