GRASSES 



WE will not attempt to enter into a lengthy discussion of grasses, 

 but simply give some of the most important features to be 

 obsei-ved in growing them. 



To successfully grow most of the varieties of grasses, five essential 

 features must be observed. 



1. Adaptation to soil and climate. 



2. Character of the seed-bed. 



3. Fertility. 



4. Seed. 



Adaptation to Soil and Climate 



It is just as useless to attempt to grow grasses as it is cereals or any 

 other plants not adapted to the soil and climate to which they were 

 evidently intended. Some grasses are peculiarly adapted to the south- 

 ern sections and will perish in a northern latitude and vice versa. Some 

 plants demand low ground and a large amount of moisture while others 

 will thrive only in semi-arid sections. The rye and oat grasses grow 

 profusely in drouth stricken regions where timothy would not survive. 



Character of the Seed-Bed 



Grasses respond to a well made seed-bed and an abundance of fertility 

 as readily as do cereals. Poor seed and neglect result, as a rule, in a 

 deficient crop with these plants as it does with corn, wheat, oats, barley, 

 etc., hence, in growing grasses the farmer must exercise the same good 

 judgment that is required to produce other crops. 



Varieties 



The grasses which are the most useful to farmers are Timothy, 

 Kentucky Blue Grass, Redtop, Orchard Grass, Brome Grass, Johnson 

 Grass, Western Rye Grass and Bermuda Grass. 



Timothy 



This grass is a hardy perennial and is cultivated more generally and 

 is more valuable than any of the other varieties for hay. 



Soil 



It is adapted to a great variety of soils, but yields most abundantly 



en rich bottom land. It does fairly well on clay if sufficient moisture 



can be secured, but on high dry sandy soils it is a failure. It responds 



to manure, especially when top-dressed with a well rotted manure in 



the fall. 



Uses 



When mixed with some of the clovers, it makes a splendid balanced 

 ration for cows, sheep and calves. Clear timothy is better for work 



