116 DACTYLIS GLOMERATA, L., ORCHARD GRASS. 



In Howard's Manual of Grasses, we read: " This valuable 

 grass ranks next in importance tp the tall meadow-oat-grass for 

 hay and winter pasture. The second growth after cutting should 

 be reserved for winter grazing. Where hay is an object, meadow- 

 oat and orchard grass should be sowed with red clover and white, 

 as each of the four blossoms at the same time and is simultane- 

 ously ready for the scythe. The cultivation of these two grasses 

 at the South cannot be too strongly recommended on soils adapted 

 to them." 



Prof. S. A. Knapp, of Iowa, after looking the ground all over, 

 concludes that orchard grass is valuable for early and summer 

 use, but not superior for late fall pasture upon the open prairie. 



Prof. G. E. Morrow, of Illinois, in Rural New Yorker, says : 



" Both for pasture and for hay, I think we have underrated 

 the value of orchard grass, if sown thickly and not allowed to 

 become harsh and woody by standing too long." 



Those living on the dry prairies will be interested in the fol- 

 lowing from Professor Shelton, of Kansas: 



" Two years ago, in giving our experience with this grass, we 

 stated that it had proved to be ' one of the very best and safest 

 of all the pasture grasses that we have tried.' It has proved 

 with us but an indifferent hay plant, yielding moderately upon 

 ordinary soils ; and the hay, when well secured, is not relished by 

 our stock. In our experience the hay is hardly equal to that cut 

 from the prairie. Our experience is totally against this grass as 

 a hay plant ; but, in grazing, its valuable qualities soon become 

 apparent to the farmer. We feel confident that it will yield fully 

 twice the feed that can be obtained from the same area of blue 

 grass or Timothy, and in nutritive qualities is certainly greatly 

 superior to blue grass. Orchard grass is one of the earliest grasses 

 to start in the spring, and the last to succumb to the frost in the fall. 

 By giving it a good start in the fall, it will furnish good pasture far 

 into the winter. It is consumed with great relish by stock of all 



