APPENDIX. 481 



one of the before mentioned three. Its very high rank as a meadow 

 grass, alone, entitles it to a position among the most commendable grasses 

 for Tennessee production. According to Boussinganlt, Liebig, Way and 

 others, when cut in full bloom, or a little later, and properly cured, it 

 possesses more flesh-forming, fat-forming, heat-producing properties than 

 almost any other grass. Its yield per acre, when well set and properly 

 treated, is a great point in its favor, also the ease of curing and the slight 

 loss from handling are strong points in its favor. This, added to its gen- 

 eral popularity, makes it a desirabla grass for general introduction where- 

 ever the soil is adapted to its growth. It delights in a peaty, loamy soil 

 of medium tenacity, and is not suited to light, sandy or gravelly soils. 

 The generally adopted mode of seeding has materially changed within 

 the last decade, when the generally adopted plan was to sow upon small 

 grain, wheat, oats, rye or barley, in the spring of the year. The failure of 

 late years to get a catch in this way, has introduced the now most gener- 

 ally adopted plan to thoroughly prepare the land in summer and seed in 

 early fall, by sowing about one-fourth bushel seed alone, and following 

 with harrow, roller or brush. I prefer harrowing in, after harrowing the 

 ground over thoroughly afier plowing, and then rolling the young grass in 

 spring after freezes, to press back the crown into the ground. I think a 

 young timothy meadow should never be cut the first year, unless from an 

 exceedingly wet spring and summer there is a luxuriant growth, and then 

 the mower should be run sufficiently high to leave quite an aftermath be- 

 hind the machine. Timothy, being of slow growth, if cut too closely the 

 hot sun of July and August certainly injures the roots unless protected 

 especially the first year. The only pasturage that can be derived from a' 

 timothy meadow is in the late fall, and then only at the risk of lessening 

 the succeeding crop. I think the yield of hay per acre of a timothy 

 meadow can always be increased by combining it with clover, herds grass 

 or orchard grass, but they will lessen the market value of the hay. The 

 lands of Tennessee well adapted to the growth of timothy are not very ex- 

 tensive. 



Ked-top or herds grass, (agrostis vulgaris), until late years, numbered 

 among the meadow grasses only, and limited in its cultivation to such 

 localities as were too wet for the successful growth of any of the foregoing. 

 It was supposed by most persons to succeed only on low, marshy, 

 flat lands. .Recently, however, it is becoming a great favorite and more 

 generally adopted. It is now being sown upon quite a variety of soils in 

 different parts of the State, and I have recently ascertained that it is be- 

 coming a spontaneous growth along many of the mountain ranges of 

 East Tennessee. My experience with it is comparatively limited, and I 

 will not venture to give any very decided opinions about it either ag a 

 pasture grass or hay plant. It is highly recommended by such authori- 

 ties as Flint, and other prominent agricultural writers of the country. My 

 own opinion, from a limited experience, is that it is a very valuable ad- 

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