70 Richard Frotscher's Almanac and Garden Manual 



GRASS AND FIELD SEEDS. 



I have often been asked what kind of G-rass Seed is the best 

 for this lattitude, but so far I have never been able to answer 

 these quesiious satisfactorily. For hay I do DOt think there is 

 anything better than the Millet. For permanent grass I have al- 

 most come to the conclusion that none of the grasses used for 

 this purpose North and West will answer. Eye, Red Oats and 

 Rescue G-rass will make winter pasturage in this latitude. Dif- 

 ferent kinds of Clover answer very well during spring, but during 

 the hot summer months I have never found anything to stand 

 and produce except the Bermuda and Grabgrass, which are in- 

 digenous to the South. The former does not seed, and has to be 

 propagated by roots. In my opinion it is better suited for i^astur- 

 age than hay, as it is rather short and hard when cured. I have 

 had so many applications for Guinea Grass that I have been in- 

 duced to import some from Jamaica, where it is used altogether 

 for pasturage. It seems to grow rank, but so far I am not ena- 

 abled to pass an opinion upon it 5 it looks rather coarse for hay. 

 Having tried Guinea Grass I have come to the conclusion that it 

 will not answer for hiTe, from the fact that it will freeze out every 

 year. It will produce a large quantity of hay or green fodder, 

 but has to be resown every spring. The seeds that are raised 

 here are light, and do not germinate freely. To import seed every 

 year is rather troublesome. The Johnson Grass advertised by 

 v^ome as Guinea Grass is not Guinea Grass j it is much coarser, 

 and can hardly be destroyed after having taken hold of a piece of 

 ground. Some are enthusiastic about Alfalfa or Lucerne 5 others, 

 whose opinion ought also to be respected, say it will not do here. 

 There exists a great difference of opinion in regard to which grass 

 seed is most suitable for the South. 



Red Clover. Should be sown either during fall or early in 

 spring. Six to eight pounds to an acre. 



White Dutch Clover. A grass sown for pasturage at 

 the rate of four to six pounds to the acre. Should be sown in 

 early spring. 



Alsike Clover. This is also called Hybrid Clover. It is 

 a native of Sweden, a cold climate, and does not succeed so well 

 here as the other kinds, because of burning out in summer. 



Alfalfa or Chili Clover, or French Liiicerne. This 

 variety does well here, but the ground has to be well prepared, 

 and deeply plowed. It will not do in low, wet ground. Should 

 be sown in January or February 5 eight to ten pounds per acre. 

 (See letter of E. M. Hudson at end of Seed Catalogue. ) 



Kentucky Blue Grass. (Extra Cleaned.) Should be 

 sown in dry soil. Two bushels per acre. 



Orchard Grass. This is one of the best grasses for pas- 

 turing. It grows quickly, much more so than the Blue G-rass. 

 Can be sown either in fail or spring. Sow one to one and a half 

 bushel per acre. (See extract from "Farmers' Book of Grasses.") 



Rescue Grass. A forage plant from Australia. It grows 

 during winter. Sow the seed in the fall of the year, but not be- 



