(28) 



fording a succession of green cuttings until late 

 in the fall. It can be forced by manures and ir- 

 rigation to a greater extent than any other knoMm 

 species of hay. 



However, as can be seen from its analysis, it 

 has, when green, nearly half less nutrient proper- 

 ties than timothy, and unless the farmer wishes 

 to cut it as a green food, it has no advantages 

 over the latter. It is an annual with a fibrous 

 root, and bears grazing well. The time of sow- 

 ing is early fall, and ten pounds of seed are re- 

 quired per acre, a bushel weighing eighteen 

 pounds. It is a valuable grass for Southern farm- 

 ers, where hay is scarce and high. Being sown 

 in the fall, the farmer will be enabled to cut it 

 early in the spring, thus giving the stock a change 

 from corn alone to succulent hay. It has been 

 fully tested in Georgia, and has given great sat- 

 isfaction. It gives a fine color to the butter of 

 cows fed on it, and they eat it with great relish. 

 It withstands the hottest suns of summer as weD 

 as the frosts of the severest winter. It must be 

 sown alone, as it will quickly choke and destroy 

 clover or other grasses. Its yield per acre, ac- 

 cording to received authority, is something im- 

 mense. Mr. Dickens, of England, sowed it on a 

 stiff, clay soil, well-manured, cut it ten times dur- 

 ing one year ; the first time, ten inches in March ; April 

 13th again; and May 4th a third time; May 25th a fourth 

 time; June 14th again; July 22d a sixth time, with ripe 

 seed and three loads hay to the acre. Immediately after 

 each cutting it was manured with liquid manure, the pro- 

 duce of each crop increasing with the temperature of the 

 atmosphere, from three-quarters of a load, the first cutting, 

 to three loads the last. He discontinued manuring now, 

 thinking its growth would be terminated in bearing seed. 



