YIELD OF ORCHARD GRASS 107 



knows that there is much soil acidity there and a back- 

 ward agriculture generally. 



Orchard Grass (Dactylis giomerata). For description 

 of the grass see page 46. Hardly any other grass has 

 been more written of than orchard grass, and yet it is 

 seldom used. It is less easily sown than timothy among 

 meadow grasses. Animals do not eat it with the relish 

 that they do bluegrass in the pasture, yet it has its place 

 and has great value. Carman credits it with a yield of 

 dry forage of 3.6 tons to the acre on June 12. In con- 

 trast, brome grass, a much more palatable and nutritious 

 grass, yielded five days later 3.04 tons; redtop, 3.04 on 

 June 20 and bluegrass, June 1 1 i .68 tons. It is evident 

 from this comparison that orchard grass yielded more 

 than double what bluegrass did, and experience proves 

 orchard grass to make very good horses and cattle when 

 grazed. It yielded practically the same as the very much 

 more palatable grass bromus inermis, however, which 

 would indicate that where one could choose between the 

 two one should take the latter. Orchard grass, however, 

 will grow on land too poor in lime and too deficient in 

 fertility for bluegrass or even brome grass. It is easily 

 established. The seed is apt to be good and pure and is 

 not very dear. There is good profit in growing orchard 

 grass seed. It roots deeper than most other cultivated 

 grasses and stands drouth better. One can get from 1 50 

 to 250 pounds of orchard grass seed from an acre and 

 afterward can have good pasture. 



Quantity of Seed to Sow. It may be sown as timothy 

 is sown, and if sown alone 30 to 40 pounds of seed are 



