The Agricultural Value Of The Leading Natural 

 Grasses And How To Use Same In Mixtures. 



In dealing on the agricultural value of the various Natural 

 Grasses and their use in mixtures for permanent pastures and 

 lawns, we must say, that they should be divided in varieties of 

 the greatest possible value, which should always be used in a 

 fair quantity in mixtures, larger or smaller according to their 

 greater or lesser value and soil, climate, etc., they are destined 

 for and in those of less agricultural value, the use of which may 

 be adviseable under certain circumstances and conditions only. 



We mean to review furthermore certain other agricultural plants, 

 non-graminece, which, for laying down permanent pastures and 

 other fields, form oft times the necessary complements of grass- 

 seed mixtures. 



To deal therefore in the first place and alphabetically on the 

 Natural Grasses, we have to speak first of: 



Agrostis stolonifera (Florin or Creeping Bent-grass}. The 

 principal of the Agrostis-varieties. This is a bottom-grass growing 

 from 20 to 25, in certain favorable soils even as high as 30 inches; 

 it is one of the fewer non-tuft forming varieties, shooting forth in 

 a creeping way its roots not only subterraneously, but also, though 

 in a smaller degree on the surface of the soil. This habit makes 

 this variety especially valuable in mixtures, where seeds of the 

 tuft-forming kind form the majority, as is practically always the 

 case; it fills up then the bare spots which are being naturally 

 created by the latter, thus making an even, thickly covered turf. 

 Though it prefers a moist, even marshy soil, yet it is found 

 likewise in dry, even in sandy soils, but does not thrive there 

 quite so well. Therefore, although it prefers moisture, it can at 

 the same time stand the drought very well indeed. It is a very 

 good feeding-grass with abundant fine-leaved foliage, well-liked by 

 all sorts of stock and suitable not only for grazing, but also for 



