ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN's ASSOCIATION, If 



nse of the plow: as it is more expensive than by the system of sur- 

 face-culture with the aid of improved machinery, even if the results 

 were alike, though we claim the preference in favor of the system of 

 surface-culture. 



We will now review the second division of this topic with the 

 comparatively and relative value of the grasses in our collection. 

 Those grasps that are adapted for permanent pasture land are those 

 which will reproduce undershoots or blades, at the base of the col- 

 umn or stem, when cropped off. With Kentucky blue grass, or June 

 grass, red-top, orchard, meadow fescue, white top, pod annie, pod 

 compspa or blue grass, sheep fescue, eragrostis peclurica hordim juba- 

 tim, Italian rye grass, sweet-scented vernal grass, foul meadow — all 

 of the above-mentioned varieties are grown in the states of Wiscon- 

 sin and Illinois, therefore they are acclimated to the condition of the 

 soil and climate. 



For upland pasture the orchard grass will produce the largest 

 per cent, of feed in a given time. I have known it to grow at the 

 rate of an inch to every twenty -four hours, for several weeks. This 

 grass is a great favorite with the men who have tested its values, in 

 our section of the state. The meadow fescue is a very valuable grass, 

 and IS well adapted to the upland, also to the lowlands; if they are 

 well drained. This grass does not mature as soon as the orchard. 

 My specimen is from eight first seedings. The sheep fescue is very 

 much like meadow fescue in its growth. The Italian rye grass is do- 

 ing very well in our vicinity, which can be seen by the specimen we 

 have in our collection. Agroslus alba, or white top, is a very valuable 

 variety of grass, which grows quite extensively in our lowlands, which 

 produces a large yield of feed much sought after by all kinds of stock. 

 The foul meadow grass cannot be too highly prized for the lowlands. 

 This has become very popular within the past few years, as it is giv- 

 ing universal satisfaction to all who have introduced it into their 

 lands. It flourishes as well on quite moist land, and yields often 

 eight tons per acre. The past fall I have cultivated and reseeded one 

 hundred acres of lowland for A. R. Earl, Esq., one of the farmers in 

 the town of Astaion, Jefferson county. Used a strong proportion of 

 the foul meadow in the combination of grass seed ; also mixed with 

 the combination of grass seed about sixty bashels of dry, unbleached . 

 ashes. Demand for this valuable grass seed is very rapidly increas- 

 ing each year. All of the varieties of grass that we have named are 

 adapted for the dairy stock-grower's farm. 



