144 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



may be cut a second time for hay or pastured as may 

 be desired. If the weather has been so dry that many 

 of the heads did not appear with the first cutting, they 

 will appear during this second period of growth, hence 

 the crop of the second cutting will be much akin in char- 

 acter to that of the first cutting. Otherwise it will con- 

 sist of "rowen," that is of leaves which have grown 

 up after the first cutting. The leaves sometimes make 

 an inch of growth in a day. A third cutting is occa- 

 sionally obtained under conditions that are quite favor- 

 able, and in the case of irrigated land rich in character, 

 a fourth cutting. The character of the hay of the differ- 

 ent cuttings subsequent to the first will be much alike, 

 since under normal conditions the plants head out but 

 once a year. It may also be added that on unirrigated 

 land the rule is to cut but once a year and then to pasture 

 subsequently. 



The yield in hay of course varies. From the first cut- 

 ting it may be put at about 1|- to 1-J tons per acre. 

 From three cuttings as much as 4 tons per acre have 

 been obtained in one season. On certain soils especially 

 those of the eastern and southern states, the growth 

 will be greatly stimulated by the application of suitable 

 commercial fertilizers (see p. 16) just after each cut- 

 ting of the crop. On irrigated soils the fertilizers ought 

 to be applied as soon as the irrigating waters have dis- 

 appeared. 



Securing Seed. When orchard grass is ripe, the 

 heads assume a light yellow tint, and the steins turn yel- 

 low for some distance below the head. When ripe, the 

 harvesting should be done with much promptness, other- 



