11 



At that time the Duke of Bedford instituted his famous series of ex- 

 perinients at Woburn, in England, for determining the nutritive prop- 

 erties of different grasses. These experiments brought into notice 

 many before unnoticed grasses and greatly stimulated their cultivation ; 

 and the subsequent development of this branch of agriculture has been 

 the means of obtaining astonishing results, not only in the multiplied 

 facilities for the grazing and fattening of cattle and sheep, but also in 

 the reaction of this business on the cultivation of grain, by the greatly 

 multiplied means of obtaining manures by which the exhausted lands 

 were renewed and the yield of grain increased. 



History of Grass Culture in the United States. In the early history of 

 this country, particularly in the Northern States, while the settlements 

 were sparse, the natural pasturage was abundant, and the natural 

 meadows and marshes furnished a supply of hay for winter feeding. 

 But in course of time, by the increase of population, the farms began 

 to crowd each other, and the range tor cattle was restricted. 



Then probably arose the question of forming meadows and pastures 

 of limited extent. Early in the last century Mr. Jared Elliot (of Con- 

 necticut) made some valuable investigations respecting the grasses suit- 

 able for cultivation, and by practice and teaching sought to bring this 

 subject to the attention of the people. 



In 1749 he wrote a particular account of the fowl meadow grass (Poa 

 serotina) which is native in New England, giving an interesting account 

 of its value as a meadow grass. 



He also refers to Herd's grass, or Timothy, as having been found " in 

 a swamp in Piscataqua by one Herd, who propagated the same." It is 

 also said to have been cultivated in Maryland about the year 1720. This 

 was some fifty years before its cultivation in England. It is also stated 

 by Parnell in his work on the British Grasses, that orchard grass 

 (Dactylis glomerata) was first cultivated in the United States, and thence 

 introduced into England about the middle of the eighteenth century. 

 Probably soon after this date two other standard grasses came into use, 

 viz, Poa pratensis (Kentucky blue grass) and Agrostis alba (redtop). 

 Some other grasses have had a limited trial, but the Timothy grass, 

 blue grass, orchard grass, and redtop have continued to be the prin- 

 cipal meadow grasses of the Northern States. To these should be added 

 red clover, which, although not a grass, is a very common meadow crop, 

 usually combined with Timothy. 



Grass in the South. Although the Southern States were earlier settled 

 than the Northern ones, there was a very different condition of agri- 

 culture as respects grazing and hay-making. In some of these States 

 the climate permits of the growth of grasses during the greater part of 

 the year, some species making their growth during the hot season and 

 others during the colder months, so that cattle may* commonly, obtain 

 subsistence in the field throughout the year, and hay is little employed 

 except for horses and cattle kept to labor. 



