ORCHAED GRASS. 27 



where clover predominates, so far as we know, is sel- 

 dom cut, for the reason that it grows too rank and 

 coarse first year after wheat, nnless for soiling. Red 

 clover is a biennial plant, and every farmer experi- 

 ences that it is only after the second year from wheat 

 that the timothy has much time to develop, and 

 that makes the article so saleable in market under 

 the name of timothy hay. 



Orchard grass, when sown with clover, obviates this 

 difficulty, grows as rapidly as clover, starts in the 

 spring as early, and by this similarity of habit makes 

 a suitable grass to mix with it. For pasturage we 

 greatly value Orchard grass, for three reasons: It 

 stands a drought better than any other, will bear 

 heavier stocking, and comes forward in the spring 

 very early. We have often been surprised to ob- 

 serve how quickly Orchard grass recovers and 

 grows after being closely cropped ; a week or ten 

 days of summer growth will make quite a good pas- 

 turage. Orchard grass, also, by Us great amount of 

 fibrous roots, tends to improve instead of impoverish 

 the soil, and we have observed that an Orchard grass 

 sod generally turns up a good dark color on being- 

 plowed. It is not at all fit for a lawn, as it some- 

 times grows in bunches or tusseks, especially when 

 sown thin. The proper quantity, when sown alone, 

 is two bushels to the acre; when. sown with clover 

 one bushel is sufficient. Perhaps there are no other 

 two grasses that can be sown together with so great 

 advantage as red clover and Orchard grass, by their 

 union the crop is nearly double what it would be if 

 each were sown separately; they grow and flower 

 well together, come to maturity about the same time 

 and the clover is supported from falling by the un- 

 common strength of the Orchard grass." 



