72 Richard Frotscher^s Almanac and Garden Manual 



as a most valuable winter grass, for it is a growth only of cold, 

 weather, the seed n<-ver germiuating during warm weather, no 

 matter when planted. 



My method, when wishing to start a new plot of it, is to 

 plough the ground once or twice during the summer to get it in a 

 thoroughly pulverized condition before sowing the seed in the 

 early fall; and if the ground is not naturally rich, put on about 

 enough manure to make a good corn crop. (The richer the land 

 the better the pasture, and the faster the grass will grow, if soil- 

 ing is the object for which it is used.) Then, about the first of 

 September I replough the ground, sowing the seed immediately 

 after, and barrow '^ them in " as you would do small grain. This 

 puts them in, in good condition, and early enough, in this climate, 

 to insure their coming up with the first cold weather in the month 

 of September or October. Nothing more is necessary to be done 

 to insure you a good pasture by Christmas. I usually sow about 

 two bushels of seed to the arpent, but if soiling is the object for 

 which it is sown, then three or even four bushels are not too much, 

 for the thicker it stands, if the land is rich, the quicker will it be 

 high enough for the sickle. 



I have a small plot of this grass in my garden, 30x84 feet, 

 which I use for soiling. From this little plot I fed during all of 

 last winter (and you know how severe the winter was), twelve 

 head of grown sheep with their lambs, in all 20 head, and upon 

 this grass, with a few cotton-seed and turnips, they kept in excel- 

 lent condition, yielding me in the spring a heavy fleece of wool. 

 After the winter was over, the grass upon this plot went to seed, 

 from which I gathered 150 lbs. of clean seed, leaving enough on 

 the ground to re-seed it. 



This grass ripens its seed early in May, then dies, giving 

 ample time to plant the ground in any crop that will not require 

 ploughing after the first or middle of September, when the seed 

 will again spring up, giving a good pasture the following winter 

 and spring, and I have yet to find the animal or fowl that is not 

 fond of this grass, and but few things afford fowls more food 

 during winter than this grass. But I would advise those planting 

 it never to let the foot of a goose touch it, for his foot is like red- 

 hot iron to all winter pastures. 



Should those wishing co plant this grass not have ground 

 naturally rich, and are not prepared with manures to make it so, 

 then let them sow any land, even the poorest, and it will give 

 them some pasture until March. Then take otf their stock and 

 allow the grass to ripen seed, which turn under with the straw, 

 weeds, etc. As soon as this straw, weeds, etc., rots a little plant 

 the ground in field peas, which turn under again in the fall early 

 enough for i:he grass seed to come up with the first cool weather, 

 and it will astonish any one who has never tried it to see how much 

 their i)astures will be improved the following winter. By follow- 

 ing this plan for a few years the poorest of land can be made rich. 

 I am treating a good size pasture of this grass in this way at 

 present, and know whereof I write. 



With this grass for winter and Bermuda grass for summer 



