36 REPORTS OF COIMMITTEES. 



IMPROVED GRASSES. 



There were but two entries for the premiums for "the best 

 acre of any of the improved grasses," the statements concerning 

 which are herewith given. The premiums were awarded as 

 follows : 



To C. C. Boyden of Leominster, ist premium, $5 00 



To J as. H. Laws, of Westminster, 2d prem., 3 00 



This experiment has been exceedingly instructive to your 

 committee. Mr. Boyden's field was visited the 14th and that of 

 Mr. Laws the 17th of June last. Both fields were seeded in the 

 spring of 79 and both with largely the same kind of grasses 

 sown with barley. We found the prevailing grasses in Mr. Boy- 

 den's field to be in order thus : orchard grass, timothy and red 

 clover, with but very little else. At Mr. Laws' we found, 

 orchard, clover, and tall oat, with little or nothing else. It is 

 possible that as time goes on and these prominent varieties fail, 

 that others may show themselves. 



Experience however has demonstrated that one of the 

 persistent, if not one of the most persistent grasses is the 

 orchard grass. In a recent article in the Country Gentle- 

 man, written by L. F. Allen of Buffalo, N. Y., he states that 

 "a small piece of an acre or two was sowed more than thirty 

 years ago with orchard grass and clover, and while the latter 

 has remained with more or less variation in annual bearing, the 

 other holds its own with steadfast tenacity, as good as when in 

 its first years of production.'" This is his favorite mixture, as 

 both start early, are ready to cut at the same time, twice or 

 three times in a season, and both are first-class for grazing. 

 The disposition of the orchard grass is to grow in tussocks or 

 clumps but this can be completely avoided by thick sowing.. 



