GXASSES. 1145 



, It is. frequently called Herd's grass in New 'England and New 

 York, arid this was the original name under which it was cultivated ; 

 it was derived from a man of that name, who found, it growing wild 

 in a swamp in Piscataqua, N. H., more than a century and a ha^f 

 ago, and began to cultivate it. In Pennsylvania and States further 

 south, this name is applied to the redtop of New England. As a 

 crop to cut for hay, it is probably unsurpassed, by any other grass 

 now cultivated. Though somewhat coarse and hard; especially, if 

 allowed to ripen its seed, it is, if cut in the blossom or directly after, 

 greatly relished by all kinds of stock, and especially s,o by horses; 

 while it possesses a large percentage of nutritive matter in cornpar-" 

 parison with other agricultural grasses. Timothy thrives best on 

 moist, peaty, or loamy soils of medium tenacity, and is not suited 

 to sandy or light gravelly lands ; for though on such soils, by great 

 care, it can be made to grow and produce fair cropsi some other 

 grasses are better suited to them, and more profitable. It grows 

 very readily, and yields very large crops on favorable soils. It is 

 cultivated with ease, and yields a large quantity of seed to the acres , 

 varying from ten to thirty bushels on rich soils. See Fig. &. ," 



Orchard Grass.— This grass flourishes throughout the whole 

 country. It grows readily in the shade, and endures drought re- 

 markably well. It ripens at the same time, ; as clover. For hay it 

 should be cut before the seed is formed, and is better for an admix- 

 ture of meadow oat grass and clover. It springs. up quickly, after 

 •being cut, and yields a good crop of irbwen. It is also valuable for. 

 ipasture, and may be quite closely fed. The seed Is light and chaffy. 

 From one to two bushels are used when this grass is grown sepa- 

 rately ; but as it grows in tufts, sortie other kind should be mixed 

 with it in order to cover the whole of jthe land. *'; 



Oat Grass. — This Is a large-growing variety, which starts earif 

 in the spring, and is very good for either hay or pasture. It i 

 quite permanent. The seed is light, and about two bushels pt\ 

 acre should be used. The seed ripens while the stalk is yet green, 

 and a crop of seed can be secured in connection with a very good 

 quality of hay. This grass grows in bunches, and needs thick "sow- 

 ing in order, to, as far as possible, counteract this tendency. It is 

 " adapted to rich land, and will give two crops per year. This is one 

 of the very best of plants for winter pastures jn the South. 



Kentucky Blue Grass, Green Meadow Grass, June Grass, Spear 

 Grass, etc. — This grass flourishes on rich uplands, and, where soil 

 and climate are favorable, gives excellent hay and permanent past- 



