

FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



in cuting some of the best in the State of Kentucky. At 

 Percyfield, near Foriadams, I cultivated a lot of Guinea- 

 grass, somewhat less than a quarter of an acre; from which 

 I fed six or eight Horses, during the Summer of eighteen 

 hundred and twelve. I planted it in the second week in 

 May, and began to cut it the 20th of June, and cut it five 

 times before the 15th of October, and obtained from each 

 plant (which occupied a square yard) about sixty pounds 

 of green grass. 



I have frequently observed it to grow four inches in 

 twenty-four hours. From the astonishing growth, and from 

 the result of all my experiments, I have no hesitation in 

 saying, that it will yield ten times as much as any timothy 

 or clover meadow I have ever seen. It is now (15th 

 October) as green as it was in June ; and animals are re- 

 markably fond of it, both green and dry. The hay is ex- 

 celent, and cures without difficulty.' 



Mr. Bronaugh says it will produce more than six times 

 the quantity of any other grass he ever knew. Mr. Robin- 

 son says, * on the 16th July, 1812, I weighed the first cut- 

 ing of one plant of Guineagrass, which was thirty pounds.' 

 The certificate of Mr. Green is of similar import. Dr. 

 J3rown, of Natches, who furnishes the certificates, corrobo- 

 rates them, and considers this grass of immense importance 

 to the Country. 



We can see no reason why it cannot be cultivated in 

 every part of this Country to advantage ; notwithstanding it 

 must be planted yearly, it being killed by the frosts. In 

 countries where frosts do not prevail, it is perenniel. Dr. 

 Brown says it is best adapted to a rich moist soil; but will 

 grow to advantage on any. 



TALL OATGRASS (A-vena Elatior) flowers in June and 

 July. It grows very large and coarse, and makes a pretty 

 good hay; though Horses are not fond of it. In point of 

 exceience, Mr. Curtis ranks it next to foxtail. In pastures, 

 it should be closely fed. It yields plentifully of seed. No 

 doubt, a little salt applied to the hay made of this grass, 

 when laid down in the mow, would be a great improvement 

 to it. It is also called Orchardgrass. 



Mr. Muhlenberg) of Pennsylvania, recommends this grass 

 very highly, as one of the best he had cultivated. It would 

 probably answer well for soiling, as it starts very early and 

 grows very late. 



YELLOW OATGRASS (A-vena Flavescens) is also a coarse 

 grass, which thrives in meadows and pastures, and on 

 hills of calcareous soil, where it flowers in June and July. 

 Though tolerably sweet, it is less relished by cattle than 

 the fioas and fescue grasses; though Mr. Curtis says, it 

 promises to make good Sheep-pastures. 



