ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES 



351 





Orchard-grass had an early 

 introduction into this coun- 

 try, probably about the year 

 1740. Both timothy and or- 

 chard-grass, while of Euro- 

 pean origin, appear to have 

 received their first extensive 

 cultivation in North Amer- 

 ica, and were afterwards re- 

 introduced into Europe. Its 

 name is probably derived from 

 the fact that it could be grown 

 in partial shade, and seemed 

 to be adapted to culture in 

 orchards. 



Climatic and Soil Adap- 

 tations. Orchard-grass is not 

 as hardy in the exterme north 

 as timothy, but can be culti- 

 vated with success two or three 

 hundred miles farther south. 

 It will not only withstand 

 hotter and drier summer 

 weather than timothy, but 

 will also endure wetter soils. 

 It is one of the best grasses 

 for river bottom lands, sub- 

 ject to overflow, as it will 

 endure flooding for one to two 

 weeks without injury. Or- 

 chard-grass, like redtop, has a 

 somewhat wider adaptation to 

 different soils and climatic con- 

 ditions than timothy. 



Advantages and Disadvantages. The greater resistance of 

 orchard-grass to summer heat gives it a decided advantage over 

 timothy along the southern edge of the timothy belt. Here it has 



FIG. 157. Orchard-grass. 



