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84 THE SEED ANNUAI, OF THE 



GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



Farming must of necessity go hand in liand with stock raising, and in order to be suc- 

 cessful our Farmers must pay more attention to Forage Plants and not rely too much on 

 our native Grasses. It is true, our prairies and meadcws show almost the entire year a 

 luxuriant growth of grasses and weeds, some of which are valuable, while the greater por- 

 tion is valueless, as it does not always afford suflBcient nourishing stock food and is entirely 

 unfit for hay. 



In winter time, when the few good varieties have become hard and tough, it is impos- 

 sible for stock to find any good digestible food, and it is therefore to the farmers interest 

 to provide good winter pasturage. 



Often the question is asked what kind of Grass Seed is the best and most suitable for 

 this latitude, but it is hardly possible to answer this question satisfactory. 



For pasturing our list of grasses must be considered" the best, for hay German Millet. 

 Alfalfa and Bermuda may be considered the best. 



Experience has taught us that none of the northern and western varieties will form 

 a permanent pasture here and that none but the Bermuda and our native grasses, such as 

 the Paspalums will stand the hot raj'sof our summer sun and not get parched out in nr.d- 

 Summer. Paspalums would be decidedly the best for hay. but up the presert lime no set d 

 could be obtained yet as no one paid any attention to their culture. 



Barley, Rye, Wheat, Oats. Rescue, Orchard. Red Top. Kentucky Blue and Fescue 

 Grass, make excellent winter pasturage in our climate, but will die out at the approach of 

 warm weather. 



Of late years the Lespedeza striata or Japan Clover, has been largely sown here and 

 has given entire satisfaction in poor and san,dy soil, also the Burr Clover, but we doubt 

 whether our rich and heavy alluvial soil would suit them. 



Perhaps the best and certainly the only grass for permanent pasturage would be the 

 Bermuda, it is very good for hay. But it grows rather short unless land is fertile, in our 

 climate where our summers are long and hot and other varieties with the exception of 

 our native grasses and obnoxious weeds are scarce. Bermuda is of great value, especially 

 as it stands drouth as well as wet weather and our coldest winters as well as the summers 

 heat. Some years ago the planting of Guinea Grass was advocated, and some of our Plant- 

 ers tried it extensively, only to lose it the first winter. 



Judging from its rapid and vigorous growth and the immense amount of roots it pro- 

 duces, it would certainly appear to be very hardv, but it is rather tender and will freeze out 

 almost every winter. It will ptoduce a large quantity of green fodder, but has been resown 

 every spring 



Johnson Grass, which resembles Guinea Grass very much and of which the seed often 

 has been sold for Guinea, has been sown by some of our planters, but as it is so difl&cult 

 to exterminate when it has taken hold of a piece of ground, it is generally objected to. In 

 high land with a deep subsoil Alfalfa and Red Clover will do well but in w-et or low land it 

 is of no use sowing the former as it will not do. 



In regard to sowing and covering Grass seed, we would say. that a harrow^ is not the 

 proper implement to do this with. Grass and Clover seeds are small and fine seeds, espe- 

 cially some varieties as for instance Timothy, and have no chauce to come up if buried 

 deeper ihan a quarter or half an inch in fine soil and even less in our heavy alluvial. 



:o: 



RYE, OATS, WHEAT AND BARI^EY. 



Are largely planted for winter pasturage in our Southern states, and hardh" any other 

 forage plant will give as much satisfaction as either of them. 



Their great value for winter pasturage cannot be too highly recommended, especially 

 as they come in. if sown at the proper time, w^hen our own native grasses begin to dry up 

 and greet' stock food becomes scarce. 



All should be sow-n from the middle of September in succession up to the beginning of 

 December at the rate of about i^^ bushels to the acre on well prepared land and covered 

 immediately after sowing to prevent the sparrows from picking them up. Of Barley two 

 and a half to three bushels should be sown per acre. 



Oats, if it is allowed to grow until the heads are formed and begin to turn 3-ellow dried 

 and tied up in bundles it will make an excellent winter food for working horses, milk-cows 

 and pigs. ' 



