132 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



as the autumn rains fall. The rapidity of the growth 

 during spring and fall is very marked on favorable soils, 

 hence the abundance of the production furnished by 

 this grass. It is reasonably hardy, but will not with- 

 stand exposure to extreme conditions as well as blue 

 grass or Russian brome grass. 



Orchard grass has the habit of growing in bunches or 

 tussocks unless thickly sown, hence the aim should be 

 to sow it so thickly as to prevent this when it is grown 

 for pasture, otherwise it ought to be grazed so closely 

 that these tussocks will not overshadow other grasses that 

 may be growing between them to the extent of destroy- 

 ing these grasses. It has also much power to grow in 

 the shade, as in orchards or parks. In New England 

 especially, the practice has been quite common to sow it 

 in orchards, hence, probably, the name orchard grass. 



It is an excellent pasture grass when properly man- 

 aged, but is not so nutritious or palatable as blue grass, 

 although it furnishes more grazing during the season 

 and also ranks high for its nutritive qualities. For per- 

 manent pastures it is possessed of a high value. Owing to 

 its peculiar habit of growing in tussocks and also be- 

 cause of the coarseness of the leaves, it is not well adapt- 

 ed to the making of lawns. 



It makes good hay when cut and cured at the right 

 time, but it has never become so generally popular for 

 such a use as timothy, either on the farm or in the mar- 

 ket. This is owing, doubtless, to the quickness with 

 which the stems become woody if not cut at the right 

 time, to its being more difficult to cure, to the less de- 

 gree of its palatability and to its greater bulkiness. 



