34 



Wednesday, even among those who looked upon the action of the Board as per- 

 haps somewhat arbitrary, seemed to be that the requirement was on the whole, 

 wise, and that excellent results may be looked for. 



Abstract of Chas. L. Flint's Remarks on ''The Grass and Hay Crop:" 



Grass, Secretary Flint thinks, is the most vital of all our crops. Its actual culti- 

 vation does not date back far, perhaps not previous to 1702, when it began to be a 

 staple in Scotland. Red and white clover had never been raised in England when the 

 pilgrims left. This is one reason why the shore towns were first settled, because 

 swamp and swail grass grew there. A variety of grasses Mr. Flint considers very 

 essential. Every square inch of earth surface wiU jaroduce more blades of sev- 

 eral kinds than of any one kind. In mixing seed it is important to combine va- 

 rieties that blossom at the same time of the year. Then, by having several com- 

 binations, it is possible to prolong the haying season almost indefinitely, — a great 

 advantage, as it permits the work to be done in a thorough and careful manner. 

 Orchard grass is one of the best kinds that can be used as a basis with which to 

 combine other sorts for an early crop. It will grow more in one week than Tim- 

 othy in three, and should always be cut in blossom. Kentucky blue grass or June 

 grass was mentioned with much favor. An excellent combination is June gi-ass 

 and orchard, mixing the seed in the proportion of one bushel of Orchard to six 

 pounds of June. Another kind, blossoming a little later, is the tall oat, or mead- 

 ow oat grass ; another not quite as early, is the meadow^ festive grass, of which cat- 

 tle are very fond. Red clover is beginning to be better appreciated among New 

 England farmers than it once was, but it should be yet more generally used. It 

 is a renovator, sometimes adding fifty pounds per acre of nitrogen to the soil. 

 For combination with early grasses it is better to mix a little alsite, or Swedish 

 clover. With this mixture haying can be commenced as early as the middle of 

 June. For a later crop nothing is better than Timothy or herd's grass as a basis, 

 that is for mowing ; for pastvirage it is worthless, as its bulbous roots do not fix 

 themselves firmly in the earth, and cattle readily pull it uj). Red top, or as some- 

 times called fine top or Rhode Island grass, with a slight addition of some per- 

 ennial kind makes the best pasturage known. For an'other, the meadow foxtail 

 or sweet scented vernal, one of the earliest and latest. Hungarian grass sown 

 one bushel to the acre makes an excellent green food for cattle, to be used the 

 same as corn fodder. In the matter of seeding fields to grass. Secretary Flint 

 takes strong ground against the practice of sowing with oats or other grain, 

 though rye is not so detrimental as oats. Oats take just the elements from the 

 soil that the young grass should have to grow on. It is better in all cases to sow 

 the grass seed by itself in early fall, say from the middle of August to the middle 

 of September. In the time of cutting and curing three or four weeks have been 

 gained throughout the State within twenty-five years, and a consequence of this 

 has been a marked improvement in the condition of cattle, hay secured early be- 

 ing juicier and more nutritive. There is a great deal of over-curing done, much 

 hay being actually spoiled by burning. 



D. G. Roberts of Pittsfield gave some of his experience in raising grass, and 

 after further discussion the meeting adjourned until two o'clock. 



During the intermission the out of town members were hospitably enter- 

 tained by members of the Farmers' club and other citizens of Lee, by whose in- 



