214 
fSOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
frequent innundations, as the corn with the blades stripped 
off and the top of the stalk bent down, as is custom- 
ary here, will not be so liable to fall down during a 
freshet, from the fact that the stalk sooner becomes dry 
and unyielding and does not offer so much resistance to 
the current of water passing through it and will not accu 
mulate so much sentiment upon it, and fall down, in con- 
sequence, as it would if the blades were left on. I think 
it much more profitable for the planter to leave the blades 
upon his corn, and either gather all his shucks and feed 
upon them instead, or to sow corn expressly for forage, 
and cut the abundance of grass which he will (after even 
the most careful cultivation) find scattered all through his 
crop in the fall, especially if he will take the pains to cut 
it at the proper time and cure it as it should be. By pur- 
suing either or both plans, he will find that he can gather 
a much larger quantity and better quality of forage, in the 
same length of time. Much more could be said upon this 
subject, especially, in reference to cultivating (expressly 
for forage) the various natural grasses, of which we 
have an abundance. But I fear that I have already pro- 
longed this article beyond the limits that should character- 
ize a true farmer’s communication. Youis truly. 
Progress. 
Soidh Carolina, May, lR5fi. 
KENTTJCKY SLUE GKASS-ITS CULTURE, ETC. 
This grass, which constitutes, the glory of Kentucky 
pastures, is regarded superior to all others for grazing, and 
what adds more to its great value, it grows with luxuri- 
ance on lands necessarily I'etained for timber, which with- 
out the grass, would yield no annual return beyond the 
value of the timber removed from them. 
The system of converting these woodlands into produc- 
tive pastures, was introduced into Kentucky, in the coun- 
ties of Benton, Clarke and Fayette, fifty years ago, by emi- 
grants from the south branch of the Potomac. This sys- 
tem extended gradually, until it embraced a considerable 
portion pf the State, and it is now beginning to constitute 
an important feature of farming in other States. It is 
equally applicable to all the rich calcareous soils of the 
West; and we hope soon to see the undergrowth in the 
majestic forests of Missouri and other States removed, and 
Che lands yielding rich returns from these unrivalled pas- 
tures. 
Preparing the Land and Sowing the Seed. — Where 
timber is an object, the important point to be considered 
is, to admit into theenclosure the greatest amount o'f sun, 
consistent with the preservation of the valuable portions 
©f the timber. Various methods have been adopted in 
Kentucky, according to circumstances, in preparing these 
woodland pastures; some cut out the undergrowth and 
foe-wood, and then sow the seed ; others bell the timber 
©ne season, and clear out the undergrowth, and then sow 
Che ensuing winter ; this latter methoa is the most expe- 
ditious, and requires the least labor. After the under- 
growth is removed, the leaves should be gathered up, so 
chat the seeds may come in contact wiih the moist soil; 
some gather and burn it, but we prefer to gather it into 
heaps, and let it lay upon the land. This may be done, 
and at the same time leave the ground in the best possible 
condition to receive the seed, by the use of a scraper. 
This is made in the following manner: take a piece of 
plank, five or six feet long, and about two feet wide, insert 
Cherein, at right angles, a common ox-tongue, and attach 
one yoke of oxen and one horse to it. With the aid of 
one man, six or eight acres can be scraped over in a day 
jumping the most of the logs with ease. The leaves are 
gathered into piles, leaving the surface of the ground clear 
and smooth, and ready for the reception of the seed. It is 
best to have one man follow, and sow the seed as fast as 
she ground is cleared. The seed may be sown at any 
time from November to April ; but the best time for sow- 
ing is in January or February, and under the operation of 
the weather, the seed will penetrate the earth more readily 
and it will vegetate the first season. 
Quantity of Seed. — From ten to fourteen pounds of 
cleaned seed should be put on an acre. Some farmers add 
to this three or four pounds of Timothy seed. 
Blue grass is very delicate the first year, and it should 
be sparingly pastured until it has gone to seed, or it is li- 
able to be pulled up with the roots. 
Blue grass is an excellent renovator for open, worn 
lands ; when sown upon cleared land, a mixture ofTimo- 
thy and Clover seed, in the proportion of three or four 
pounds of each, to ten or twelve pounds of cleaned blue 
grass seed, is preferred. The advantage resulting from 
this is, it secures at once a well covered pasture, that 
will bear a considerable grazing the first year; the blue 
grass will soon expel the clover and timothy, and take 
full possession of the ground. Open grounds are usually 
sown in March, upon wheat, rye or oats. 
The further treatment of meadow lands, and the proper 
rotation of crops upon the river borders, necessary to pre- 
cede the renewal of these meadows, will be the subject of 
an article in our next number. — Valley Farmer. 
Cutting Timber. — If oak, hickory or chestnut timber is 
felled in the eighth month — August — in the second run- 
ning of the sap, and barked, quite a large tree will season 
perfectly, and even the twigs will remain sound for years; 
whereas, that cut in winter, and remaining till next fall — 
as thick as one’s wiist — will be sap-rotten, and will be al- 
most useless for any purpose. The body of the oak split 
into rails will last more than ten or twelve years. Hick- 
ory cut in that month is not subject to be worm-eaten, 
and will last a long time for fencing. 
When I commenced farming in 1820, it was the prac- 
tice to cut timber for post fencing in the winter. White 
oak posts and black oak rails cut at that time, I found 
would not last more than ten or twelve years. In the 
year 1828, I commenced cutting fence timber in the eighth 
month. Many of the oak rails cut that year are yet sound 
as well as those formed of chestnut. If the bark is not 
taken off this month, however, it will peel off itself the 
second or third year, and leave the sap perfectly sound. 
The posts of the trees are also more valuable for fuel than 
when cut in winter or spring. 
1 advise young farmers to try the experiment for them- 
selves, and if the post fences will not last twice as long, I 
forfeit all my experience as worthless — Exchange. 
•— 
UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Fourth Annual Exhibition of the United States 
Agricultural Society, will be held at Powelton, (Philadel- 
phia,) on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 
Saturday, October 7th, 8th, 9th, lOth and 11th. 
The First Exhbition of this Society, held at Springfield, 
Mass., in October, 1853, was devoted exclusively to an 
examination of Horses ; at Springfield, Ohio, 1854, Cattle 
alone were exhibited ; at Boston, 1855, all departments of 
Farm Stock — Cattle, Horses, Sheep and Swine — were 
shown. 
The Society, encouraged by past success, and by the 
approbation of the Agricultural community, now propose 
to offer premiums, not only for Domestic Animals, but also 
for Poultry, and the products of the Fruit Garden, tlie 
Grain Field, the Vineyard, and for Agricultural Imple- 
ments and Machinery. 
Premiums from S25 to S200, amounting in the aggre- 
gate to over S 12,000, will be offered for the various class- 
es of Domestic Animals, Fruits, American Wines, Grains 
and Agricultural Implements and Machinery, 
A local Committee of forty citizens of Philadelphia, 
