1892. J PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 183 



1891. — Previous to the year 1891 other crops than grasses 

 have been cultivated upon some plats at times. Of late none 

 but single grasses or mixtures of reputed grasses have been 

 planted. The single grasses are raised as in previous years 

 in rows two feet apart ; grass mixtures are seeded down 

 broadcast. The manure in case of single grasses is applied 

 by hand between the rows, and is subsequently slightly 

 ploughed in by means of a cultivator ; in case of grass mix- 

 tures the manure is applied as top dressing early in the 

 spring. In both cases the first manure is applied broadcast 

 and ploughed under before seeding down the grass. 



Plat 11, Kentucky blue-grass (Poa pratensis), sown 

 Sept. 24, 1889, in rows. The grass looked well in the 

 spring ; the growth between the rows was removed with the 

 cultivator and the hoe, to secure as far as practicable a clean 

 crop. The grass began to bloom June 5, when 27 inches 

 high ; it was cut when the seed began freely to set (June 17 ) . 



Plat 12, Kentucky blue-grass (Poa pratensis), sown 

 Sept. 24, 1889. The grass on this plat showed signs of 

 winter-killing. The crop was cut June 17. The yield of 

 both plats, 11 and 12, amounted to 260 pounds of hay (975 

 pounds per acre) when removed to the barn. This plat (12) 

 was ploughed July 8, 1891, the sod thoroughly cut up with 

 a wheel harrow, properly harrowed and seeded down Sept. 

 18, 1891, with a mixture of four pounds each of Kentucky 

 blue-grass and red top. The grass was well above ground 

 Sept. 28, 1891. 



Plat 13, English rye-grass (Lolium perenne) and Italian 

 rye-grass (Lolium Italicum), each occupying one-half of the 

 plat. Both were sown in rows Sept. 29, 1890. The Italian 

 rye-grass was in better condition at the beginning of the 

 spring than the English rye-grass. The latter had suffered 

 in a considerable degree from winter-killing. The winter- 

 killed spots were re-seeded at an early date. Both grasses 

 bloomed fairly June 18 ; they were cut June 24. The first 

 cut of hay amounted to one hundred pounds in each case 

 (1,500 pounds per acre). The second cut of the English 

 rye-grass yielded 120 pounds (1,800 pounds per acre) 

 August 18, while the Italian rye-grass yielded 90 pounds 

 ( 1,350 pounds per acre). 



