212 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



not preserve the roots long from the effects of the diy 

 weather following. The grass-roots lying near the surface 

 of the upper soil, are the first to feel the drought, and allow- 

 ing the grass to be closely bitten off at the approach of win- 

 ter is to expose the roots, upon the coming of spring, to dry- 

 ino- winds and thirsty sunshine. To shut out these influences, 

 and to maintain in the soil a reservoir for the growing grass 

 from one rain to another, is, when the soil is well pulverized 

 and rich, to have plenty of grass. This may be done by 

 simply keeping our cattle off the mowing-fields after hajdng, 

 and allowing the grass to attain a height of several inches 

 before winter. The frost kills the grass, the snow mats it • 

 close to the roots, and the spring sun finds every root under 

 the protection of a mulching that retains the moisture in the 

 soil for a considerable period of time after rains. 



Mr. Allis, of Conway. The subject of cultivating grasses 

 is a subject which I think should and does interest us 

 all, perhaps, as much or more than any subject which has 

 been or is to be brought before this meeting at the present 

 time. Our Secretary has this morning given us some idea of 

 the improvement which has been made in the last half century 

 in the cultivation of our grasses. Our friend from Herkimer 

 has given us some idea in regard to the cultivation of grasses 

 which, as has already been said, may answer very well for 

 his location, and ntay also, to some extent, answer for us ; 

 but in the Connecticut Valley, which is perhaps the best grass 

 section in our State, taken altogether, we find, gentlemen, 

 that, in order to create an abundance of grass, we must use 

 our common fertilizers very generously. It has been the 

 practice up and down that river, for a few years past, to ma- 

 nure a certain portion of the land every year. Perhaps you 

 are well aware that in the cultivation of tobacco, some have 

 followed it for a number of years in succession, and then 

 seeded the land down, in some cases with wheat, and har- 

 vested great quantities, as high as fifty bushels of winter- 

 wheat to the acre, and have mowed the land so long as the 

 grass grew luxuriantly. I would say that, after thus seeding, 

 I have mowed heavy crops of grass for six years in succes- 

 sion, two crops each year. But, sir, they are experimenting 

 somewhat still. There are many who now manure highly for 



