D. M. Ferry & Go's Descriptive Catalogue. 



49 



five to twelve years. It yields a prodigious amount of 

 green fodder for cattle, and should be cut when first 

 commencing to bloom, when it pushes out fresh shoots, 

 and the after growth is something wonderful. In the 

 driest and most sultry weather, when every blade of 

 grass withers, Lucerne is as fresh and green as in spring, 

 because the roots go down to the moisture in the ground. 

 Although such a prodigious jielder, it does not exhaust 

 the soil, but rather improves it. It should not be sown 

 on compact, clay soils, even with a light subsoil. 



One of our customers writes us 

 from Utah as follows: " I have 

 had years of experience, both 

 here and in California. We al- 

 ways sow broadcast, twenty-five 

 pounds per acre ; the thicker it is 

 sown the finer your hay will be. 

 If it is planted thin, it stools out 

 and the stalks are thick and not 

 relished by stock. It requires no 

 hoeing whatever when sown as 

 above. We cut four crops a year, 

 and its yield is enormous. The 

 fall is the best time for sowing 

 ghere, as it will stand the winter 

 and do much better the following 

 season than when sown in the 

 spring. The above is my experience for fifteen years." 

 In some sections it is sown in the spring, in drills, 

 twelve inches apart, and hoed until it covers the sur- 

 face. This process requires about eight pounds of seed 

 per acre. 



Bokhara (Melilotus alba) Sweet Clover.— This is 

 exceedingly valuable as pasturage for bees. It is occa- 

 sionally found growing wild by the roadside, in company 

 with the more common sweet clover {Mililotus offici- 

 nalis)^ and may be distinguished from it by its white 

 flowers and less coarse and more leafy stems. 



GRASS SEEDS. 



Timothy {Phleiatt pratense).—T'h\s is the most val- 

 uable of all the grasses for hay, especially at the north. 

 Thrives best on m®ist, loamy soils of medium tenacity. 



Lucerne. 



It should be cut just when the blossom falls. Sow either 

 in spring or fall, at the rate of twelve pounds per acre, 

 if alone, but less if mixed with other grasses. Forty- 

 five pounds per bushel. 



Orchard Grass, or Cock's Foot iDactylis glo)ner- 

 nin). — One of the most valuable grasses, on account of 

 its quick growth and valuable aftermath. It is ready 

 for grazing in spring two weeks sooner than most grasses, 

 and when fed off is again ready for grazing in a week, 

 and will continue green when other grasses are withered 

 by dry weather. It is palatable and nutritious, and 

 stock eat it greedily when green. It has a tendency to 

 grow in tufts, and so does better if .sown with clovers, 

 and as it ripens at the same time, the mixed hay is of 

 the best quality. For grazing, it has no equal, and 

 should be u^d more than it is. When sown alone, two 

 bushels are required per acre ; if sown with clover, half 

 that amount. It is perennial, and will last for years, but 

 its habit of growth unfits it for lawns. Fourteen pounds 

 per bushel. 



Red Top (Agrostis vulgaris). — In some sections this 

 is called Rhode Lsland Bent Gr.ass. In Pennsylvania 

 and States farther south, it is known as Herd's Grass, 

 a name applied in New England and New York to tim- 

 othy. It is a good, permanent grass, standing our cli- 

 mate well, and makes a good pasture when fed close. Is 

 valuable for low, wet meadows, producing a large return 

 in good hay. When sown alone, two bushels per acre 

 are required, sown in spring or fall. Fourteen pounds 

 per bushel. 



Fowl Meadow, or False Red Top (Poa serotina). 

 — It yields well when sown on low, moist land, and will 

 not suffer if not cut at the exact time. It can be mowed 

 almost any time from July to October. When three feet 

 high it falls down, or lodges, and after a little time every 

 joint puts forth new branches. The stalk is always 

 sweet and tender, and cattle and sheep are fond of it. It 

 thrives best when mixed with other grasses. Though 

 resembling red top in some respects, it is distinct, and 

 we think superior in every respect. Requires about the 

 same amount of seed per acre as red top, sown ;.i spring 

 or fall. Twelve pounds per bushel. 



English Blue Grass, or Meadow Fescue iFestu- 

 ca pratensis). — This is one of the most valuable pasture 

 grasses we are acquainted with, as its long and tender 

 leaves are much relished by stock of all kinds. It suc- 

 ceeds well, even in a poor soil, and as its roots penetrate 

 the earth twelve or fifteen inches, it is not affected ex- 

 cept by exceedingly dry weather. When cured like tim- 

 othy, it yields a very superior quality of hay. 



Notwithstanding its acknowledged merits, this grass 

 has been sown only to a limited extent in this country. 

 It is deserving of much more attention than it has hith- 

 erto received from American farmers. 



Sow one bushel per acre, in spring or fall. September 

 is the best season for sowing south of the Ohio river. 

 Twenty-four pounds per bushel. 



Kentucky Blue Grass {Foa pratensis).— "Wns is 

 known in some sections as Green Meadow Gr.a^ss, and 

 June Grass, but should not be confounded with Poa 

 coinpressa^ called by some June Grass, or Wire Gr.a,ss. 

 This species produces the most nourishing food for cat- 

 tle of any, and till a late period in winter, and at the 

 south abundant food throughout the winter. In con- 

 junction with white clover, it forms the finest and clos- 

 est of lawns ; for this purpose, an extra quantity of seed 

 should be used, say two bushels of blue grass and six 

 pounds of white clover per acre. If sown by itself, two 

 bushels will be required, sown early in the spring, or in 

 October or November. Fourteen pounds per bushel. 



Perennial Rye Grass {Lolium perenne). — A verj* 

 valuable variety for permanent pasture ; very nutritious, 



