130 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



have access to them. These animals are about the best exter- 

 minators of briers, cane and underbrush. Old hogs sometimes 

 destroy small fruit trees especially the plum, by tearing the bark 

 with their teeth in shaking off the fruit. 



WHAT ARE THE BEST GRASSES FOR WINTER PASTURES? 



This depends on whether the pasture is for one season, 

 or to be permanent, as well as on location, soil, drainage, etc. 

 For a single winter, the testimony, so far as known to me, is 

 unanimous in strong commendation of our native wild brome 

 grass, (Bromus unioloides). Many however, speak from a 

 single experiment, and with little or no knowledge of other 

 grasses. So that we must accept these statements with due re- 

 serve and caution. Two winters it gave me luxuriant, tender 

 grazing from October till April or May ; but next winter it was 

 three months later, not coming up till November, and not ready 

 for grazing till the middle of January. Others inform me that 

 seed grown here do not germinate till November, and that for 

 early fall pastures, seed must be imported annually from South- 

 ern 'Europe, .but this I know is not necessarily so ; for it is in- 

 digenous in our southern States, and I have seen good grazing 

 early in October from native seed. It depends on character of 

 the season. 



Several other plants furnish good winter pasture, but none 

 are so valuable as barley. I have year after year sown wheat, 

 oats, rye barley, etc., side by side, lor winter pasture ; and 20 

 years ago I reached the conclusion, that barley was 'more valuable 

 than all others. It affords grazing earlier, more abundantly, 

 grows sooner and more rapidly after being grazed down, is more 

 relished by stock and more wholesome. It does not lie on the 

 ground like rye, but stands up ; so that stock eat less sand, dirt 

 and other unwholesome matters in grazing it. With me, when 

 all other kinds of grain were destroyed by rust, it was never af- 

 fected by that or any other disease, or contingency of weather. 



It is gratifying to see in the Southern Cultivator, from the 

 pen of its experienced, cautious and very able editor, a like es- 

 timate of the value of barley for winter pasture; sown in Au- 

 gust or September, it affords good grazing from October till 

 May. If stock are taken off in March, a good crop of seed may 

 be harvested ; or if not all desired for seed, swine may be turn- 

 ed on it, and for a month or two, probably nothing could bene- 

 fit them more. Sow three bushels per acre. 



FOR PERMANENT PASTURES, 



a mixture is necessary, and a few mixtures are here given as 

 samples ; but they may be much varied : 



