212 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



is killing out the broomsedge wherever it appears. It grows 

 exceedingly well on red clay, and with a little care covers 

 red hillsides that are much too common all over the State. 

 If it will do this and destroy the broom grass, it should be 

 cultivated. It is not good for meadow and is only valuable 

 for pasture. 



The Hon. M. T. Polk considers it almost worthless for 

 grazing, having made many experiments with it. His 

 opinion is entitled to great weight. 



HERDS GRASS AND ORCHARD GRASS. 



These grasses have been treated at length under the head 

 of Meadow Grasses. Both are favorite pasture grasses, in- 

 deed, preferred for the pasture to the meadow. In my ex- 

 perience and observation I knew of no grass which will 

 give more general satisfaction upon every soil as a pasture 

 grass, than Herds Grass. It is nutritious, hardy, tenacious 

 of life, a luxuriant grower upon wet or dry soils, and is 

 highly relished by stock. In low places where water is 

 likely to stand after heavy rains, it will flourish and retain 

 its vitality. Many swampy places can be made profitable 

 by being sown in this grass, as its interlacing roots consoli- 

 date the ground, making a tight surface over which cattle 

 can feed without miring. It* has never been valued at its 

 actual worth. 



Orchard Grass is not so hardy as Herds Grass, though 

 probably it is more nutritious, or at least, more palatable to 

 stock. I have observed on two pastures, side by side, the 

 one sown with Orchard Grass and the other with Herds 

 Grass, that stock will prefer the Orchard Grass to the Herds 

 Grass. This may be owing to the fact, that Orchard Grass 

 has a more rapid growth, and is therefore tenderer and more 

 succulent. Both are good, but the Herds Grass will stand 

 more tramping and grazing than the Orchard Grass, and 

 will thicken into a sward while the Orchard Grass will be- 

 come thinner year after year. The first season after sowing? 



