THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



121 



tion (0 this, it ia found to be the very best enricher , by getting them well set in this grass. If the 

 olland when turned in, in a green slate. All crops j means exist, the process is a very simple one • 

 thrive well on a clover lay. The best crops of; and if the means do not exist, no farmer ou"ht 

 wheat and corn are unilormly taken from the j to rest satisfied til! he has them. But it is not 

 clover fields. Indeed, the farmer considers his niy intention to enter on that broad and extensive 

 work as pretty well done when he can get his subject involved in the improvement of land. I 

 land in a state to produce clover lieely. It not would simply observe, that where marl exists, 



only ihrovvs forth large quantities of nutriiious 

 stems and leaves, but each plant has a long tap 

 root, which penetrates to a great depth; so that 

 the whole land, both above and below the sur- 

 face, is completely occupied with it, and many 

 are of the opinion, that the root contributes as 

 much nutriment lo the land as the top. Thit^ 

 grass is rendered, m many situations, especially 

 above tide-water, vastly more luxuriant by appli- 

 cations of small quantities of gypsum. Two or 

 three bushels to the acre, applied in early spring, 

 are often found greatly to increase the crop. In 

 eastern Virginia, however, lime or marl, or ashes, 

 is a much safer reliance. If alkalies be present 

 in sufficient quantities, it will succeed well in al- 

 most any soil, except it be too wet, and when il has 

 taken a firm hold, it is almost impossible to era- 

 dicate it. I have known seeds to vegetate alter 

 they have lain dormant at least fen years in the 

 land. One sowing on good land, kept in a state 

 of constant fertility, is ordinarily sufficient for all 

 time. 



The next grass which I propose to consider is 

 what is commonly called the Kentucky blue 

 grass. No doubt seems now to exist, that this 

 grass is identically the same with that which 

 abounds so much in all rich soils, throughout 

 our whole state, and is known among us by the 

 common name of green-sward or blue grasp. 

 There is however a difference, between these 

 two grasses; but it requires a botanist to point it 

 out. In a practical treatise of this kind, this 

 difference is of very little consequence. 



This grass, to the western farmer, is of im- 

 mense importance, not on account of the crops 

 of hay which it yields, but the rich pasturage 

 which it furnishes. It is indeed one chief source 

 of the western man's wealth. The time hrs 

 been when New England was considered the 

 best grazing country in America. The best cat- 

 tle were found there, and large numbers of mules 

 were exported to the West Indies. But since 

 the introduction of this grass into the west, Ken- 

 lucky and Ohio have evidently taken the lead. 

 There is no doubt that these two states now 

 furnish a larger number of fine animals than 

 any other section of our country. Large num- 

 bers of horses and mules, great droves of cattle, 

 and still greater droves ol hogs, are driven every 

 year from those states to find a market in the 

 east. And all these animals depend, in a great 

 measure, upon this rich nutritious "raes. 



(and it abounds almost every where in lower Vir- 

 ginia,) stop up the gullies, if there are any, grub 

 up the young pines and other rubbish that has 

 taken possession of the worn out old fields; 

 plough deeply, then cast on the marl ; sow clover 

 seed and harrow them in, and a foundation is at 

 once laid lor improvement. In two years, the 

 clover will in a great measure disappear, and the 

 green-sward will begin to take its place. The 

 probability is that in many parts of the field 

 there will be neither clover nor green-sward. 

 Such places require further aid. But by per- 

 severing in this course, the whole field may ulti- 

 mately be reduced to fertility and beauty, and in 

 time the whole farm may be greatly improved. 



But what is to be done when marl cannot be 

 procured, and where the crops require all the ma- 

 nure thai can be commanded? The only reme- 

 dy in this case is io make mora manure. Nor 

 let any one say that this is impracticable. I ven- 

 ture to affirm, that not one in fifty among us 

 makes half as much manure as he might and 

 ought to make. The plan is simply this : increase 

 your crops ; this will enable you to increase your 

 stock, and then a foundation is laid for increased 

 manures. 



It will be perceived that the above remarks 

 apply only to those who have superfluous lands. 

 It is obvious that all such lands are vastly more 

 valuable in pasture, than to remain as exhausted 

 old fields. 



But in this section of country, and especially 

 in the neighborhood of our towns and cities, there 

 are also many small farms. Here it would be 

 very bad policy to devote much if any of our 

 lands to mere grazing; and here the green- 

 sward, instead ol' being a blessing, is a mere pest. 

 In all tillage lands, as a general rule, it is an un- 

 welcome visitant. This is particularly the casa 

 in all the meadows in which we wish to culti- 

 vate the artificial grasses. There it is one of our 

 greatest plagues, for such is the tenacity of its 

 hold, and such is the rapidity with which it 

 spreads, that it speedily displaces every thing be- 

 Ibre it. But as a mere pasture grass, I believe 

 that its equal, both in firmness ol sod, and rich- 

 ness of nutriment, is not to be found in the whole 

 catalogue of grasses. * 



Some time ago I was much amused, and I 

 hope profited, in looking over an analysis of the 

 grasses made by Dr. Darlington, of Pennsylva- 

 nia, in which he gives the first rank in point of 



And here it is a subject of interesting inquiry, I nutriment to the Kentucky blue grass. Next in 



may not this rich grass be turned to a profitable 

 account among us also? It has already been 

 remarked, that it grows every where in our state 

 I have seen it on the mountain top, and in the 

 valley below. It succeeds well in all rich soils, 

 both above and below tide-water. A fertile soil 

 then is the only thing that is wanting to ensure 

 success. Now il has occurred to me, that those 

 farmers who have more land than they can cul- 

 tivate (and great multitudes are in this situation) 

 might turn their superfluous lands to great profit, 

 Vol. X. — 16 



order he places what we call timothy, but in 

 New York, and east of it, it is called herds-grass. 

 This is certainly one of our most valuable grasses. 

 None is more certain to vegetate when the seeds 

 are good, and proper care is taken in the prepara- 

 tion of the land, nor is there any that comes to a 

 more speedy maturity. If sowed in the lall, say 

 in September, on good land, it commonly produces 

 a good crop the next season. It may also be 

 sown in the spring, but then it will not produce a 

 crop until the next July twelve months. There 



