52 
NATIVE GRASSES. 
by a Polish refugee, and presented to the Rev. 
Ludovicus Jerzykowitz, and by him to Mr. Doyle. 
It is 16 inches in circumference, and weighs 
1 lb. 14 oz. It is one of the finest onions we ever 
saw; and we are glad to learn from Mr. Doyle, 
that he intends to transplant it next spring, and 
grow seed from it. 
NATIVE GRASSES. 
Great neglect has characterised the investiga¬ 
tions of American agriculturists, as it regards the 
varieties, habits, and comparative value of indi¬ 
genous grasses. We have before called the at¬ 
tention of our readers to the great number of 
spontaneous growth in the different latitudes 
and varied localities within the Union; and we 
have tried to elicit original information, derived 
from actual experience and observation, but 
hitherto without much success. 
There is a great labor—physical and mental 
—to be performed, and by a great number of 
intelligent, observing, and cautious farmers, be¬ 
fore we shall have the data for classifying the 
merits, and even the precise or definite charac¬ 
ter of our forage plants. Their natural habitat, 
(soil, situation, or location,) must be noted, 
their variations when changed to other locali¬ 
ties ; their treatment, or manner of sowing and 
cultivating; the kinds of manures best suited to 
them ; times for feeding in pastures or curing for 
hay; and their comparative and actual merit, 
are all matters of vital importance to be known. 
When this information has been obtained from 
multiplied sources, under every varying circum¬ 
stance and situation, then we shall be prepared 
to embody, arrange, and classify this most valu- 
ble of native American products. 
There are great numbers of the grasses pe¬ 
culiar to every situation on this continent. In 
the low lands of the north, we have the swamp 
cock’s foot, the meadow foxtail, varieties of red 
top, and many others. On higher lands, above 
36° north, we have the Timothy, or fox¬ 
tail, smoothed-stalked meadow, or green grass, 
blue grass of Kentucky (Poa pratensis); the 
sweet-scented vernal grass, &c. In the south, 
are the Guinea grass, in several varieties, the 
crab and Bermuda grasses; and in Texas, and 
still further west to the Pacific, the musquit, 
(muskeet,) the buffalo and tornillo, or screw 
grasses abound. 
Besides these, all of which are indigenous, 
and innumerable others, less conspicuous but 
hardly less useful, perhaps, as pasture grasses, 
there are many of the natural or indigenous 
clovers, which are invaluable as forage plants. 
We have observed these in every section of the 
United States we have visited; but by far the 
most conspicuous and abundant is the dwarf 
white clover. This is to be found growing in 
the greatest luxuriance on the stiff clays of the 
most northerly states, intimately blended with 
the green grass (Poa pratensis ); and it is seen 
with equal profusion on the levees, by the way 
sides, or on the resting fields of the Delta of 
Louisiana, whenever the creeping Bermuda per¬ 
mits its egress above the surface. Next to this, 
is the yellow clover of various species, four of 
which at least, we have noticed, at the north, and 
two or more at the south, and we have observed 
only such as presented themselves unsought be¬ 
fore us. 
What are the absolute merits of these ? How 
are each of these relished by stock, horses, cat¬ 
tle, and sheep, and what are their nutritive val¬ 
ue? We see little left of them in the fields 
where other forage has been consumed by 
horses and cattle, and sheep are peculiarly fond 
of them. We noticed, last summer, among the 
luxuriant crops of standing grasses, on some of 
the Long-Island and other meadows, no incon¬ 
siderable proportion of the whole crop was the 
tall, yellow trifolium, much of which was two to 
three feet in height. May we ask, for the benefit 
of American husbandry, that our intelligent 
readers will give us some useful facts and opin¬ 
ions on the subjects of such of these native 
grasses and forage plants as come within their 
own observations? 
GUANO—HOW SHOULD IT BE APPLIED ? 
Most persons prefer to sow it upon fresh- 
plowed earth, and harrow in immediately. 
Others have found a very beneficial effect by 
mixing it with earth and sowing upon grain or 
grass. Some put a table-spoonful of guano upon 
each side of a hill of corn, taking care that the 
guano is several inches from the plant, and then 
cover immediately with a hoe or plow. Some 
drill it along in the furrow at the rate of 200 to 
400 lbs. to the acre before dropping the corn. 
Mr. Nelson, of New Kent Co., Va., sowed it 
broadcast upon wheat land, and plowed it in 
deep—he thinks the deeper the better—and then 
sowed his wheat and harrowed in. The land 
dressed with guano shows a very marked differ¬ 
ence. Part of the land had been recently 
limed; but instead of injuring the effect of the 
guano,- as many suppose, it rather added to the 
value of it. This is because the guano is buried 
so deep that the ammonia cannot escape. 
Guano is the cheapest and most effective man¬ 
ner ever applied to poor land. It will renovate 
it the quickest. But after that, don’t depend 
upon this one application; but give your land 
vegetable manures and rotation of crops, and 
you may continue to grow them for a long time, 
just from that one dressing of guano. Use none 
but the genuine Peruvian, if you wish to be sure 
that it is good. 
Wire Fence.— We intended to add to our 
article on wire fence, in the January num¬ 
ber, that the ends of the wire which hook into 
each other, should be bent while red hot , other¬ 
wise, when the wire contracts, as it does on the 
approach of cold weather, the ends break, which 
have been bent cold. A small, portable furnace 
can easily be taken into the field, for the pur¬ 
pose of heating the ends of the wire, when the 
fence is put up. 
Sea-Marsh Mud.— Garden peas, growing upon 
land near Norfolk, Va., manured with this, were 
not affected by the severe frost of last April, 
while others, upon adjoining land, were entirely 
destroyed. Why was this ? 
