86 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



15 to 25 bushels of clean seed, which is usually worth in 

 the market from $1.25 to $2.00 per bushel, and the stalks 

 and chaff that remain make a useful fodder for most kinds 

 of stock. It may be sown on wheat or rye in August or 

 September or in the spring. When sown alone or with 

 other grasses early in the season on a rich soil, it will pro- 

 duce a good crop the same year. From its late ripening it 

 is not advantageously mixed with clover unless upon heavy 

 clays which hold back the clover. We have tried it with 

 the northern or mammoth clover on clay, and found the 

 latter though mostly in full blossom, still pushing out new 

 branches and buds when the former was fit to cut. The 

 quantity of seed required per acre depends something on the 

 soil and its condition. Eight quarts on a fine mellow tilth 

 is sufficient, and is equal to 16 on a stiff clay. 



THE TALL FESCUE (Festuca elaiior) would appear by the 

 Woburn experiments to yield more nutritive matter per acre 

 when cut in flower than any other grass cut either in flower 

 or seed. This is a native of the United States, and is best 

 suited to a rich loam. It is not extensively cultivated in 

 this country. 



MEADOW FESCUE (Festuca pratensis) likes a boggy soil, 

 bears well and produces an early grass much relished by 

 cattle, either green or cured as hay. 



SPIKED FESCUE (F. loleacea) is adapted to a rich loam, 

 and produces the best of hay and pasture. 



THE PURPLE FESCUE (F.rnbra-,) SHEEP'S FESCUE (F. 

 avina;) THE HARD FESCUE (F. duriuscida ;) THE FLOAT- 

 ING FESCUE (F. fluilans,) are all indigenous to this country, 

 and good pasture grasses. 



ORCHARD OR COCK'S FOOT GRASS (Dactylis glomcrata) 

 is indigenous, and for good arable soils and especially for 

 such as are shaded, it is one of Ihe most profitable grasses 

 grown. It should be cut for hay before it is ripe, as in seed- 

 ing it becomes coarse and hard and is less acceptable to 

 cattle. It is ready for the scythe with the clover, arid after 

 cutting, it immediately springs up nnd furnishes several 

 crops of hay or constant pasturage throughout the season. 

 It should be fed closely to secure a tender succulent herbage. 

 The seed is remarkably light, weighing only 12 or 15 Ibs. 

 ber bushel. Twenty to thirty Ibs. are usually sown upon 

 one acre ; yet ten Ibs, on finely prepared soils have been 



