556 AGRICULTURE. 



tion ; and the subsequent development of this branch of agri- 

 culture 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 abun- 

 dant, and the natural meadows and marshes furnished a supply of 

 hay for winter feeding. But in coarse of time, by the increase 

 of population, the farms began to crowd each other, and the 

 range for 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 Connecticut), made some valuable investigations respect- 

 ing the grasses suitable for cultivation, and by practice and teach- 

 ing 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 Herds-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 culti- 

 vation in England. It is also stated by Parnell, in his work on 

 the British grasses, that orchard-grass (Dactylis glomeratd) 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 (red- 

 top). Some other grasses have had a limited trial, but the 

 timothy-grass, blue-grass, orchard-grass, and redtop have con- 

 tinued to be the principal 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 



