46 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 



account of its maturing well with a number of other very valuable 

 grasses and clovers its popularity may in time increase as the advan- 

 tages of such mixtures become more generally appreciated. 



Orchard grass is exceedingly variable and offers a large field for 

 selection and breeding. Its variable characters of most importance 

 are its coarseness, bunchiness, and time of maturing. B}^ consistent 

 selection with special reference to the first two characters valuable 

 strains ma}^ in time be developed which will not possess the objection- 

 able features of the common orchard grass now being grown. 



METHODS OF CULTURE. 



SEEDING. 



While there are some methods that are generally emplo3^ed in the 

 culture of orchard grass, still there is a great difference of opinion 

 even among the most successful growers in any one localit}^ as to the 

 best practices. In the seed-producing section of Kentucky and Indi- 

 ana it is the common custom to sow the grass in February on fall 

 wheat at the rate of from three pecks to one bushel to the acre. Since 

 the crop in this section is almost entirely harvested for seed, it is not 

 considered desirable to sow more than a bushel. In 3^ears past as 

 much as two bushels to the acre were sown, but it is now the gen- 

 eral opinion that one bushel is sufficient, and even less is often 

 used. A bushel of orchard grass seed weighs 14 pounds. Orchard 

 grass to give large yields of seed should be reasonabl}^ thin, as 

 it produces more abundantly when in this condition. It is usually 

 'sown broadcast, as it does not feed out well through a press drill, 

 either by hand or with a wheelbarrow or other type of seeder, and is 

 covered very shallow. Good results are often obtained by not cover- 

 ing the seed, and it is quite a common opinion that too deep covering- 

 is the cause of many of the failures to secure a stand. 



A method of seeding which is often followed in the section men- 

 tioned is to scatter the orchard grass straw from which the seed has 

 been thrashed on ground that has been sown to wheat. This is usually 

 done in February. The straw acts as a mulch in this case and the seed 

 needs no covering. It is very essential that it be scattered evenly and 

 very thin; otherwise the stand will be too thick and unsatisfactory. 

 The greatest objection to this practice is that unless the straAv is very 

 clean the meadow is sure to be weedy, and some are of the opin- 

 ion that since the seed that is left in the straw or blown over with it 

 is mostly of poor qualit}^ a field of inferior and unequallj^ maturing 

 grass will be the result. 



Orchard grass ma}^ be sown successfully after corn by splitting the 

 rows with a disk harrow as soon as the crop is removed. This may 

 be done any time during the month of October, and in February or as 



100— VI 



