ORCHARD GRASS. 49 



LIFE OF MEADOWS. 



Orchard grass is a more hardy and permanent grass than timothy, 

 and as a result remains productive in a meadow under most conditions 

 much longer. In the principal sections where it is grown the average 

 life of a meadow is from five to seven years, although it is a question 

 whether it might not be broken up profitably at the end of four years. 

 Throughout almost its entire region Kentucky bluegrass is its natural 

 enem}^ and works in around the bunches almost to its ultimate exclu- 

 sion. Eedtop and Canada bluegrass also are present in man v sections 

 with the Kentucky bluegrass, and at the end of ^vq or six years these 

 three grasses are greatly in the majority. Pasturing seems to facili- 

 tate the growth of the bluegrass, inasmuch as it has a tendency to 

 cause the orchard grass to become more bunchy, and it is also a means 

 of spreading the bluegrass seed. During the last year of its existence 

 it is customary to pasture the orchard grass field, and late in the 

 autumn or early in the winter it is broken up and is planted to corn 

 the following spring. It is well to have the field broken up as early as 

 possible so as to give the sod time to rot sufficiently before planting 

 the corn. 



USES AND VALUE. 



HAY. 



According to chemical analysis orchard grass hay should be equal, 

 if not superior, to timothy, but in real practice it does not seem to be 

 able to successfully compete with the latter. In large cities there is 

 practically no demand for any hay except timothy, and the demand for 

 orchard grass hay is only local and very limited. In the timothy 

 region orchard grass is looked upon very unfavorabl}^ but where 

 timothy can not be grown so successfully its hay is used to a greater 

 extent and is considered of very good quality. 



As previously stated, orchard grass should be sown thicker when 

 desired for hay than for seed, 2 bushels of good seed to the acre 

 being usually required, for unless thick it becomes coarse and woody. 

 Its value as hay is increased b}" the addition of red clover or alsike, 

 and where it has been sown with other grasses, such as tall meadow 

 oat-grass or meadow fescue, its qualit}' seems to be improved b}^ such 

 mixtures. The state of maturity at which the grass makes the best 

 hay is when it is just in bloom. Not only does the quality seem to be 

 better at this time, but the yield is also at the maximum. 



In some sections it is considered a good hay for horses, but it is of 

 more value for cattle, and especially for fattening them for the market. 

 As a feed for sheep it is of only fair quality. The value of the hay 

 depends not only on the state of maturity at which it is cut, but also 

 on the bunchiness and coarseness of the grass. These characteristics 

 18270— No. 100—07 i 



