GARDEN MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



95 



7.54. The more recent analysis of Wolff and Knopp, allowing for water, gives rather 

 more nutritive matter than this. 



It grows rapidly, and yields heavy crops of seed, makes good grazing and good hay. 

 But, as with all the Rye Grasses, to make good hay, it must be cut before passing the blos- 

 som stage, as after that it deteriorates rapidly. The roots being short, it does not bear 

 drought well, and exhausts the soil, dying out in a few years. In tnese respects it is liable 

 to the same objection as Timothy. The stem, one to two feet high, has four to six purplish 

 joints and as many dark green leaves; the flexious spiked panicle bearing the distinct 

 spiklets one in each bend. 



English Rye is largely sown by our landscape gardeners for winter lawns on Bermuda 

 sod. The Bermuda blades being easily affected by frost become red and rusty looking, 

 while English Rye during winter presents a most beautiful appearance, being of a vivid 

 green, and as the Bermuda during April and May makes its appearance it overgrows the 

 English Rye, causing the latter to decay and act as a fertilizer to the existing grass. 



It should be sown in August or September, at the rate of twenty-five or thirty pounds 

 or one bushel of seed per acre. 



ORCHARD GRASS. 



Dactylis Glomerata. 



Of all the grasses this is one of the 

 most widely diffused, growing in Africa, 

 Asia and every country in Europe and' 

 all our States. It is more highly esteemed 

 and commended than any other grass by 

 a large number of farmers in most coun- 

 tries — a most decided proof of its great 

 value and wonderful adaptation to many 

 soils, climates and treatments. 



It will grow well on any soil contain- 

 ing sufficient clay and not holding too 

 much water. If the land be too tena- 

 cious, drainage will remedy the soil; if 

 worn out, a top dressing of stable ma- 

 nure will give it a good send-off, and it 

 will furnish several good mowings the 

 first year. It grows well between 29 

 and 48 latitude. It may be mowed from 

 two to four times a year, according to 

 the latitude, season and treatment; 

 yielding from one to three tons of excel- 

 lent hay per acre on poor to medium 

 land. In grazing and as hay, most ani- 

 mals select it in preference among mix- 

 tures in other grasses. In lower lati- 

 tudes it furnishes good winter grazing as 

 well as for spring, summer and fall. 

 After grazing, or mowing, few grasses 

 grow so rapidly (three to six inches per 

 week), and. are so soon ready again for 

 tooth or blade. It is easily cured and 

 handled. It is readily seeded and catches 

 with certainty. Its long, deeply pene- 

 trating fibrous roots enable it to sustain 

 itself and grow vigorously during 

 droughts that dry up other grasses, ex- 

 cept tall oat grass, which has similar 

 roots and characteristics. It grows well 

 in open lands and in forests of large Orchard Grass, 



trees, the underbush being all cleared off. I have had it grown luxuriantly even in beech 

 woods, where the roots are superficial, in the crotches of roots and close to the trunks of 

 trees. The hay is of high quality, and the young grass contains a larger per centage of nu- 

 tritive digestible matter than any other grass. It thrives well without any renewal on the 

 same ground for 35, nay 40 years; how much longer we are not able to say. It is easily exter- 

 minated when the land is required for other crops. Is there any other grass for which so 

 much can be said? 



