146 [Assembly 



prescmng all the juices; and these in time, with the dissolved salt 

 form a rich paste, matted and adhering to the stems, equally diffused 

 through the whole mass. In this state, when taken out in winter, it 

 is sweet and fragrant ; cattle eat it greedily, will thrive on it, an^ 

 mucli less of it serves. The usage is stated here, and probably in 

 correctly, as nothing is practically known of the process in ou) 

 country, not with any expectation of its being adopted or tried, bu*. 

 to show what can be done with the article grass, in its green state, 

 and bow essential its natural juices are to make the best forage, as 

 well as pasturage. 



Redtop, or as it is generally called south of us, kerdsgrass^ and by 

 some redfop timothy^ is an excellent grass ; it has something of the 

 character and habits of timothy so called ; it requires a humid, rich 

 soil, one in which clay predominates ; rather a bushy top, composed 

 of several small stems, shooting out from the main one laterally, near 

 the top ; rich in juices, makes fines hay ; cattle are fond of it j 

 should be cut about the time of timothy, or when in full flower, it 

 matters little which. 



Orchard grass^ or cocksfoot; much esteemed by many, especially 

 in Pennsylvania and some other States ; it is highly valued for both 

 pasture and forage ; rich sandy loam suits it best. One remarkable 

 quality it possesses, is to start up and grow immediately from the 

 stem, when cut or fed off, not waiting for fresh shoots to spring up 

 from its roots, nor the healing of its wounds, and has been known on 

 good soils to grow an inch in twenty-four hours from the time of cut- 

 ting. Messrs. H. Powell and L. Jones, of Pennsylvania, speak 

 highly of it ; thick sowing necessary, great care in gathering and 

 preparing the seed. Mr. Powell recommends at least two bushels to 

 the acre. The great objection to it with some who have cultivated 

 it, is that it will grow in tussocks or detached bunches, leaving naked 

 spots, which are not easily filled up with oLher perennial grasses. 

 Whether this was owing to the habits of the plant, too thin sowing, 

 or any other cause, is not known. 



Kentucky Blue grass. This is the favorite grass, and deservedly 

 so, of the west. Kentucky soil and climate seem to be most con- 



