88 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



It Bhould be sown the last of September or first of October — any time 

 after the equinoctial rains to the 15th of October. It is better to be 

 sown alone, but will do very well sown with wheat. When sown in 

 the spring it is usnall; overrun with weeds. 



As a meadow or grazing grass it is very valuable. It yields on 

 good soil from a ton to one and one-half tons of superior hay, the 

 stems and blades much fewer and somewhat softer than timothy. I 

 prefer it to timothy — my stock prefer it. 



For grazing it is very valuable. Upon land where limestone is ab- 

 sent it flourishes, has greater tenacity of life, makes a sod almost im- 

 pervious to hoof and tooth — in fact it is the blue grass of the mountain 

 district. We have but little lime in our soils and therefore blue grass 

 does not grow well. For a meadow I prepare the soil well with plow 

 and harrow and sow one bushel of clean seed per acre, one-half one 

 way and then sow the other half across the first so as to avoid leaving 

 spaces unoccupied. A light brush may be dragged over it or not, as is 

 preferred. I prefer to leave it without brush or roller. The roller ie 

 the best ; in fact for a meadow it prepares the surface well for the 

 mower or sythe. If sown by the first of October, alone, a crop of hay 

 the next season may be cut. perhaps equal to any it will ever after- 

 ward yield, and worth more than a crop of wheat or corn. 



The time to cut for hay is just before the seeds ripen, but if seeds are 

 desired let them ripen, and if cut immediately will still make fine hay. 

 For pastures I would advise a mixture of orchard grass with it. Orchard 

 grass grows well in the same soil with Herds grass. 



I am gratified that you are giving to the country so much general in- 

 formation upon the subject of agriculture. It is yet possible to reno- 

 vate our exhausted soils, and restore, prosperity to our country again. 

 Our soils and our mines are our wealth, but our people must be taught 

 to understand the value of manures, the rotation of crops and the breed- 

 ing and feeding of domestic animals. 

 TALL RED-TOP— {THeuspis seslerioides.) 



Spikelets, three to twelve flowers, glumes unequal, rachis of the 

 spike bearded below each flower, lower palea much longer than the 

 upper, convex, hairy on the back, three nerved and three pointed by 

 projection of the nerve, stamens three, stigmas dark purple. 



The Tricuspis, three pointed, is a meadow grass and 

 thrives best on sandy soils or old fields. When in full 

 bloom it makes a good show' but does not yield a sufficiently 

 large crop to justify sowing iu preference to several* 

 others. It is said to be harsh and wiry. 



