(63) 



SECOND. AS TAKEN FROM THE "FIELD IN BLOSSOM. 



There is, in all pastures, a number of bare spots that seem to re- 

 sist the efforts of blue grass to sod. By mixing other seeds with the 

 blue-grass, these spots can be made to produce as well as other 

 places. In a natural meadow, by careful counting, several species 

 are often found growing intimately on every inch of earth. On a 

 good natural pasture in one square foot of sod, there have been 

 counted 1,000 plants, consisting of twenty distinct species. This is 

 nature's own arrangement, and may be safely cop'e 1. In such a 

 pasture not an inch of surface is unoccupied. It may be thought 

 an inch or two here and there makes but little difference in the 

 space occupied. But every blade of grass is of some importance, 

 and it is astonishing the aggregate of these barren places. 



Now, once more, let it be urged on the farmers of Tennessee to 

 look into this matter of pastures, and provide themselves with this 

 highly important adjunct to every farm. No home is complete 

 without pastures, and yet there are many who will depend either 

 upon the fortuitous wild grasses for grazing, or feed their stock 

 from the crib all through the year. With a rich blue-grass lot, 

 no stock need be fed, except while at work ; and, indeed, it is 

 sometimes the case that in dry, scarce years, crops have been made 

 with horses and mules that had no other provender than a blue- 

 grass lot. 



SHEEP'S FESCUE (Festuca ovina Perennial.) 



The fescue grasses are very popular in New England, and grow 

 well in Tennessee, having been introduced in some localities. They 

 are perennial, and grow in tufts, and from their profuse foliage 

 they form excellent pasturage for cattle, and especially for sheep, 



