300 



"the southern planter. 



hancement of prices, we are inclined to think 

 that planters who have suitable grazing 

 grounds for sheep, would consult their own in- 

 terests by increasing their flocks. No animals 

 pay better for their keeping when the demand 

 for wool is good and the prices fair ; and there 

 is, perhaps, none that requires so little atten- 

 tion during the grazing months, or less food 

 during winter. It appears to be the true pol- 

 icy of planters to diversify their products as 

 much as possible, and we are sure that there 

 is none more available than the production of 

 wool, and for the reason we have already as- 

 signed. But independent of the value of the 

 wool of the sheep, there is certainly no meat 

 more delicate, more generally relished or nu- 

 tritious than theirs ; and although the price is 

 greatly reduced to what it was in former years, 

 still when the value of the fleece is taken into 

 account, there can be no question as to their 

 being a profitable kind of stock, while the fact 

 of the supply of wool being greatly inadequate 

 to the demand at present, should operate as 

 an inducement to the extension of sheep hus- 

 bandry. D***. 



The Proper Time for Cutting Timothy. 



BY JAMES P. KIRTLAND, M. D., OF CLEVELAND, 

 OHIO. 



The proper time for cutting Timothy mea- 

 dows, (herds-grass of New England,) with 

 reference to securing the best qualities of hay, 

 has been a fruitful subject of observation and 

 remark. Little or no attention has been paid 

 to the influence of the time and manner of cut- 

 ting, over the health, permanency, and pro- 

 ductiveness of such meadows. A vague idea 

 prevails, among farmers, that if the mowing 

 be performed before the seed of this species of 

 grass is ripe, it will run out, from a failure to 

 re-seed the ground. Every observing farmer 

 has noticed that, in some instances, extensive 

 tracts of Timothy sward have suddenly died, 

 soon after the removal of the crop of hay, 

 while, in others, the sward continued healthy, 

 and for a series of years produced abundantly 

 of this grass. The rationale of such opposite 

 results, under apparently similar circumstances, 

 had never been explained, so far as my infor- 

 mation extends. 



My neighbor, Richard McCrary, an intelli- 

 gent and practical farmer, has recently pre- 

 sented me with the annexed propositions and 

 conclusions, as the result of his experience on 

 this subject. These he illustrated by speci- 

 mens of the grass, in every condition to which 

 he alludes. It is hoped they will be thoroughly 

 scanned, by persons competent to test their ac- 

 curacy. If, they bear this test, to Mr. Mc- 

 Crary the credit of the discovery of the facts 

 solely belongs ; and I have no doubt the com- 

 munity will consider him as having conferred 

 an important benefit. 



1. Timothy grass {Phleum pratense) is a 



perennial plant, which renews itself by an an- 

 nual formation of "bulbs," or, perhaps, more 

 correctly speaking, tubers, in which all the 

 vitality of the plant is concentrated during the 

 Avinter. These form, in whatever locality the 

 plant is selected, without reference to dryness 

 or moisture.* From these, proceed the stalks 

 which support the leaves and head, and from 

 the same source spread out the numerous fibres, 

 forming the true roots. 



2. To insure a perfect development of these 

 tubers, a certain amount of nutrition must be 

 assimilated in the leaves, and returned to the 

 base of the plant, through the stalk. 



3. As soon as this process of nutrition is 

 completed, it becomes manifest by the appear- 

 ance of a state of desiccation, or dryness, al- 

 ways commencing at a point directly above 

 either the first or second joint of the stem, 

 near the crown of the tuber. From this point, 

 the desiccation gradually progresses upwards, 

 and the last portion of the stalk that yields up 

 its freshness is that adjoining the head. Co- 

 incident with the beginning of this process is 

 the full development of the seeds, and with its 

 progress the}'' mature. Its earliest appearance 

 is evidence that both the tubers and seeds have 

 received their requisite supplies of nutrition, 

 and that neither the stalk nor the leaves are 

 longer necessary to aid them in completing 

 their maturity. A similar process occurs in 

 the onion, just above the crown of the bulb, 

 indicating the maturity of that organ. 



4. If the stalk be cut from the tubers, before 

 this evidence of maturity has appeared, the 

 necessary supplies of nutrition will be ar- 

 rested, their proper growth will cease, and an 

 effort will be made to repair the injury, by 

 sending out small lateral tubers, from which 

 weak and unhealthy stalks will proceed, at the 

 expense of the original tubers. All will ulti- 

 mately perish, either by the droughts of au- 

 tumn or the cold of winter.f 



5. The tubers, together, with one or two of 

 the lower joints of the stalk, remain fresh and 

 green, during the winter, if left to fake their 

 natural course; but if, by any means, this 

 green portion be severed, at any season of the 

 year, the result will be the death of the plant. 



* Mr. Lapham, in his valuable article on the " Gras 

 ses of Wisconsin," (Transactions of the Wisconsin 

 Agricultural Society, Vol. 3, 1853, page 425,) says : 

 " When growing in very dry places, bulbs are fre- 

 quently formed on the roots of Timothy grass, as a 

 sort of store-house of moistme, &c, from which to 

 draw supplies of nutriment, for the future growth of 

 the plant." Mr. McCrary supposes it occurs in all 

 localities, and is the nature and habit of the plant. In 

 this, he is probably correct. 



t Florists know that if the stalk of the white lily be 

 cut, prematurely, a similar result ensues ; and that, 

 by cutting off the stem and leaves of herbaceous 

 peonies, before they are mature, the tubers will be so 

 much impaired as to fail to bloom the next season. 



