42 The Grasses. [Jan., 



become naturalized to a considerable extent. As a meadow grass 

 it is better than timothy, to sow with clover, since it arrives to 

 maturity at the same time with clover, and also should be cut for 

 hay when in blossom. An objection urged against this grass is, 

 that it grows in tufts or bunches; however this is partly because 

 the seed is not sown thick enough. This objection is of no force 

 when it is sown with other grasses, which is the most preferable 

 manner of its cultivation. It is not as valuable for hay as pas- 

 turage, there being few grasses that are of more rapid growth or 

 abundant yield. Its leaves have been known to grow an inch in 

 one single night. 



To obtain the full benefit of this grass, it should be kept grazed 

 pretty close. Sheep prefer it to almost every other grass, and it 

 seems to be peculiarly adapted to them, as it flourishes well on 

 dry uplands and withstands well the drouths of summer. It is well 

 fitted for both early and late pasture. Sinclair, for an acre of 

 winter pasture in England, recommends the following, with the 

 proportion of seed which should be sown of each. 



Dactylis glomerata, (Orchard grass,) 4 pecks. 



Festuca pratensis, (Meadow fescue,) 3 " 



Timothy, (Phleum pratense,) | " 



Agrostis stolonifera, (Fiorin,) 1 " 



Holcus avenaceus, (Tall oat like soft grass.) . . . 2 " 



Lolium perenne, (Perennial rye grass,) .... 3 " 



Poterium sanguisorba, (Burnet,) 2 " 



Trifolium pratense, (Red clover,) 6 lbs. 



" repens, (White " ) 8 " 



This shows the high value placed upon the orchard grass for 

 pasture, in England; it also shows the English love of variety, 

 and that they sow more seed to the acre than is generally prac- 

 tised in this country. In the Genesee Farmer, vol. v., p. 245, we 

 find the following statement of the profits of a crop of orchard 

 grass, on about an acre and a quarter of land, containing sixty-five 

 young apple trees which were just beginning to bear; the price 

 current is given at which the respective articles were sold: 



17 bushels seed at $2 per bushel, $34 00 



2 tons of hay, first crop, at $10 per ton, . . . .20 00 

 U " " second " « " .... 15 00 



Amount $69 00 



Estimated expense of gathering above crops. 

 Cutting and shocking seed, one hand half a day, . $0 50 

 Threshing " " one day, . . 1 00 



Cutting stubble of « « «... 1 GO 



