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and the ground is quickly turfed with it. It should be planted 

 early in September. Of course, the richer the land, whether upland 

 or bottom, the greater the yield, as the time has never yet come 

 when poor land will make better crops of anything than fertile 

 land. I have seen it growing with great luxuriance in Montgomery 

 county. 



MEADOW OAT GRASS (Avena pratensis.) 



This is a perennial grass, and is a native of Great Britain. Tt is 

 one of the few grasses that do best on a dry soil. It grows to a 

 height of only eighteen inches in its native pastures. But here it 

 is quite a different grass, and rises to the height of from five to six 

 feet. It will not grow well on moist soils, but on rich upland 

 or good sandy land it grows with vigor. It deserves a place on 

 every farm, as the hay is excellent, and is greedily eaten by stock, 

 and besides, the yield is extremely large. Another advantage is 

 that the seed will be ripe before the hay turns yellow, so that not 

 only the hay will be saved, but a large amount of seed can be 

 secured ; upon a barn floor enough will shatter out to supply the 

 wants of most farmers. Or if the farmer wishes to sell the seed, 

 he can cut off the heads with a cradle and let the mower follow for 

 the hay. 



Should the autumn prove a wet one, a second crop can be cut, but 

 if there is not sufficient aftermath to justify cutting do not pasture 

 it, but allow it to grow on as long as it will, and about Christmas 

 it will turn over and the tops turn yellow, all prepared for the 

 hungry stock, and it will continue to sustain them until other 

 grasses take its place. However, should it be desired to use it for 

 hay the succeeding year, the stock should be removed about the 

 middle of February. 



It will seed in the fall after being sown in the spring, which is 

 the proper time to sow it. Sow two bushels per acre. The seed is 

 very light and chaffy. It is a tussock grass, and does not spread 

 from the roots, consequently the seed must be depended on for a 

 stand. After the first sowing, there will be no difficulty in obtain- 

 ing seed, as the yield is large. It affords, both for hay and pasture, 

 perhaps more green food than any grass we have. 



