68 ORCHARD GRASS. ITS CULTIVATION. 



This is one of the most valuable and widely-known 

 of all the pasture grasses. It is common to every 

 country in Europe, to the north of Africa, and to Asia, 

 as well as to America. Its culture was introduced into 

 England from Virginia, where it had been cultivated 

 some years previously, in 1764. It forms one of the 

 most common grasses of English natural pastures, on 

 rich, deep, moist soils. It became, soon after its intro- 

 duction into England, an object of special agricultural 

 interest among cattle feeders, having been found to be 

 exceedingly palatable to stock of all kinds. Its rapidity 

 of growth, the luxuriance of its aftermath, and its power 

 of enduring the cropping of cattle, commend it highly 

 to the farmer's care, especially as a pasture grass. 



As it blossoms earlier than Timothy, and about the time 

 of red clover, it makes an admirable mixture with that 

 plant, to cut in the blossom and cure for hay. As a 

 pasture grass it should be fed close, both to prevent its 

 forming thick tufts and to prevent its running to seed, 

 when it loses a large proportion of its nutritive matter, 

 and becomes hard and wiry. All kinds of stock eat it 

 greedily when green. 



Judge Buel said of it, " I should prefer it to almost 

 every other grass, and cows are very fond of it." 

 Elsewhere he says : " The American Cock's-foot, or 

 Orchard Grass, is one of the most abiding grasses we 

 have. It is probably better adapted than any other 

 grass to sow with clover and other seeds for permanent 

 pasture or for hay, as it is fit to cut with clover, and 

 grows remarkably quick when cropped by cattle. Five 

 or six days' growth in summer suffices to give a good 

 bite. Its good properties consist in its early and rapid 

 growth, and its resistance of drouth ; but all agree that 

 it should be closely cropped. Sheep will pass over 

 every other grass to feed upon it. If suffered to grow 



