APPENDIX. 479 



Society, Chas. L. Flint, in his treaties on grasses and forage plants, that I 

 adopt his text in giving a description and its characteristics. He says : 



" This is one of the most valuable and widely known of all the pasture 

 grasses. It is common to every country in Europe, to the north of Africa, 

 and to Asia as well as to America." 



It was introduced into England from America, and forms one of the 

 most common grasses of English natural pastures, on rich, deep, moist 

 soils. Its rapidity of growth, the luxuriance of its aftermath, and its 

 power of enduring the cropping of cattle, commend it highly to the far- 

 mers' care, especially, as a pasture grass. As it blossoms earlier than 

 timothy, and about the time of red clover, it makes an admirable mixture 

 with that plant to cut in blossom and cure for hay. As a pasture grass it 

 will bear feeding closer than blue grass, as it grows much more rapidly; 

 and close grazing has much influence in preventing it from forming into 

 tussocks. All kinds of stock eat it greedily when green. It is one of the 

 most abiding grasses we have; it will grow well in either sunshine or 

 shade; five or six days of growth will furnish a good bite for cattle; it will 

 resist drouth when blue grass or timothy will parch and dry up; it will 

 produce more pasturage than any other grass with which I am acquainted. 

 Indeed, if I had my preference of all pastures for grazing stock, especially 

 for preparing sheep or cattle for market, I would by all odds prefer an 

 equal mixture of orchard grass and red clover. The preparation for seed- 

 ing is about the same as blue grass, and may be sown any time during 

 early spring, or even winter, many preferring to sow during snow, as it 

 enables any one to make a more regular distribution of the seed; by all 

 means avoid a windy day, as the seed are very light and will blow into 

 bunches under the lightest breeze. This grass, like blue grass, should not 

 be pastured the first year, but any time after a year old it may be pas- 

 tured longer and closer than blue grass; but to derive its full value should 

 not be pastured very close during the hot months.- Orchard grass does 

 not stand frost quite so well as blue grass, but has so many superior quali- 

 ties as to deserve general commendation, and especially that of flourishing 

 upon a greater varieties of soils and in more different climates than almost 

 any other variety of grass. I would recommend it to the cotton States 

 with the full assurance that it, when fully introduced, will prove one of 

 their greatest boons. 



Next in importance to Tennessee is red clover, (trifolium pratense.) In- 

 deed it is hard to separate or distinguish between the relative values of 

 the three above named grasses. Although red clover is not, properly 

 speaking, a natural grass, it is so closely allied in value and general 

 adoption, wherever successful agriculture prevails, to the natural grasses, 

 that it deserves a place among them in general cultivation. Indeed I can 

 scarcely imagine how successful agriculture can be conducted without it. 

 The renovation of the older States and worn-out lands can scarcely be ac- 

 complished without its agency. The successful rotation of crops depends 



