52 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 



it is harder to dispose of the blubgrass and some of the weed seeds, 

 such as plantain and whitetop. From the machine the seed is put into 

 8-bushel bags for shipping. Thrashing costs on aD av^erage 8 cents 

 per bushel, with the customary crew furnished. 



HANDLING THE AFTERGROWTH. 



In cases where orchard grass is cut for seed there is a great differ- 

 ence of opinion as to how the aftergrowth should be handled. It is 

 generally considered that pasturing is not in the least detrimental but 

 is even beneficial. Whether the aftergrowth should be cut for hay 

 is an undecided question. It is a common practice, however, to cut 

 it, due to the fact that it is depended upon largely for hay, since tim- 

 othy and other hay grasses are not grown to any great extent. After 

 the grass is cut for seed, especially when it is cut sufficiently high, 

 there is alwa3^s considerable green undergrowth. This continues to 

 gTow, and during the latter part of August or about the first of Sep- 

 tember is at the proper stage to cut for ha}^. If there is clover pres- 

 ent in the aftergrowth it makes a ver}^ fair quality of hay and yields 

 from one-half to one ton to the acre. The quality of this hay is not 

 so good as that of the ha}^ made from the first cutting. 



While it is a general practice to cut the aftermath during the latter 

 part of August or September, there are some who prefer to cut it as 

 soon as the shocks are removed from the field, as it is believed to be 

 better for the following seed crop if it is cut then. It is the opinion 

 of some that the aftermath should be cut in any event, and consequent!}^ 

 if it is not desired for hay it is cut and left oji the ground. Others 

 are of the opinion that if it is cut at all it material!}^ injures the next 

 year's crop, especially so if used for hay, as the two cuttings remove 

 a large amount of plant food from the soil without much return. 



Judicious pasturing, to say the least, is not detrimental to the field, 

 and in all probabilit}" is more or less beneficial. The aftergrowth, 

 which comes on after the seed crop is removed, furnishes grazing 

 until it is covered with snow, and in the more southern sections where 

 the grass is grown lasts nearly the entire winter. Sheep can be verv 

 profitably pastured on this aftergrowth, and in many cases almost as 

 much money is made from the pasture that it affords the sheep as 

 from the seed crop, on account of the length of time which it will 

 furnish grazing. At present prices sheep are equall}^ as profitable as 

 cattle, if not more so, and can be pastured on orchard grass to much 

 better advantage. 



VALUE OF THE STRAW. 



There is much difference of opinion regarding the value as a feed 

 for stock of orchard grass straw from which the seed has been thrashed. 

 Some state that it is of almost as much value as the hay, but in general 

 it is thought to be about equal to wheat straw. Its value depends 



100— VI 



