Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 1, January 5, 1884.: A Weekly Journal for the Farm, Orchard and FiresideVarious
History
Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 1, January 5, 1884.: A Weekly Journal for the Farm, Orchard and Fireside
Various
Agriculture -- United States -- Periodicals; Farm life -- Periodicals; United States -- Rural conditions -- Periodicals
1st. The seed will germinate and grow as easily as common oats. 2d. It
maintains a deep green color all seasons of the year. 3d. Its roots
descend deeply into the subsoil, enabling this grass to withstand a
protracted drouth. 4th. Its early growth in spring makes it equal to rye
for pasturage. 5th. In the next year after sowing it is ready to cut for
hay, the middle of May--not merely woody stems, but composed in a large
measure of a mass of long blades of foliage. The crop of hay can be cut
and cured, and stowed away in stack or barn, long before winter wheat
harvest begins. 6th. It grows quickly after mowing, giving a denser and
more succulent aftermath than any of the present popular tame grasses.
For several years, he says, we have been looking for a grass that would
supply good grazing to our cattle and sheep after the native grasses
have become dry and tasteless. In the early portion of 1881, his
attention was called to a tame grass which had been introduced into the
State of Michigan from West Virginia. This forage plant was causing some
excitement among the farmers in the neighborhood of Battle Creek. So he
entered into a correspondence with a friend living there, and obtained
ten pounds of seed for trial. The result has been satisfactory in every
respect. The seed was sown April 1, 1881. It germinated quickly, and the
young plants grew vigorously. During the whole summer they exhibited a
deep-green color, and did not become brown, like blue-grass, orchard
grass, or timothy. As soon as the spring of 1882 opened, growth set in
rapidly, and continued till the latter end of May, at which period it
stood from three to four feet high. At this time it was ready for the
mower; but as the production of seed was the object in view, it was not
cut till the second week in June. The plot of ground of about half an
acre, on which ten pounds of seed were sown, produced three barrels of
seed.
He exhibited a little sheaf of this grass at the semi-annual meeting of
the Kansas State Horticultural Society, where it excited much
attention--the height, softness of the stem, length of blade, and sweet
aroma surprised every one present.
On the last day of August, he went into the plot with a sickle, and cut
two handfuls of aftermath which measured twenty inches in growth. This
he tied to a sheaf of the June cutting, and exhibited the same at the
State Fair, where it attracted much attention and comment.
Here, then, we have, he continues, a grass that will insure a "good
catch" if the seed is fresh; that can endure severe drouth; that
produces an abundant supply of foliage; that is valuable for pasture in
early spring, on account of its early and luxuriant growth; that makes a
valuable hay; that shoots up quickly after being cut; and affords a fine
crop of aftermath for grazing during the late fall and winter months.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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