inal tubers. All will ultimately perish, either by the drouth of autumn, or the cold of winter.

5. The tubers, together with one or two of the lower joints of the stalk, remain fresh and green during the winter, if left to take their natural course, but, if by any means, this green portion be severed at any time of the year, the result will be the death of the plant. From these five propositions, the following conclusions are drawn:

1. That Timothy grass cannot, under any circumstances, be adapted for pasture, as the close nipping of horses and sheep is fatal to the tubers, which are also extensively destroyed by swine.

2. That the proper period for mowing Timothy is at any time after the process of desiccation has commenced on the stalk, as noticed in proposition third. It is not very essential whether it is performed a week earlier or later, provided that evidence of maturity has become manifest.

3. All attempts at close shaving the sward should be avoided while using the scythe, and in guaging mowing machines, care should be taken to set them to run so high that they will not cut the Timothy below the second joint above the tuber.

Agrostis vulgaris-Redtop of New England-Herdsgrass of Pennsylvania and Southern States. This valuable grass, well known to our farmers, and more commonly cultivated than any other except Timothy, is of European origin, and was introduced at an early period in the settlement of New England. It succeeds best on rather moist soils and grows better than most grasses on wet and cold uplands, producing a goodly quantity of hay, rather light in proportion to its bulk, and of good quality, though not of the very best. Its chief excellence lies in the fact that it is well adapted to our climate, very permanent, equally good for meadows and pastures, and yields a fair crop, both as to quantity and quality. As a pasture grass, it is esteemed for yielding a good and regular growth throughout the season, which is readily eaten by horses and cattle, especially if fed close-if allowed to grow up to seed, it is less relished and often refused.

This grass varies somewhat in its botanical characters and very much in its size and general appearance, according to the soil and the culture it receives. As seen in poor dry pastures, it is often

not more than five or six inches in height, and commonly called fine top. In rich moist soils, it grows from one and a half to two and a half feet high, and has a deeper color. These variations have led to some confusion and the bestowal of different names upon the same species.

a-Orchard Grass, (Dactylis Glomerata.)

b-A spikelet magnified.

Dactylis glomerata-Orchard Grass, Cocksfoot. This is one of the most valuable pasture grasses, although as yet cultivated in this State to only a very limited extent. It was at one time extolled beyond its merits as a meadow grass, but when made into hay being

found light and weak compared with Timothy, and so failing to fulfil the undue expectations excited, it fell too far below a just estimate. Another objection to its use for hay, is its habit of growth, being a jungle grass, and when mixed with others, standing in tussocks above the general surface, and so renders the sward uneven and not easy for smooth mowing. For meadows, it is best by itself, and seed enough should be sown to have the plants cover the whole surface and make an even sward. Its cultivation, however, as a meadow grass, is still extensive in some of the middle states, where it is by many preferred to Timothy to mix with clover on account of its earlier ripening, being in the best stage for cutting at the same time as the clover. There seems to be little doubt that it might be more extensively introduced to advantage among us, especially as a useful auxiliary in grazing and soiling. It is an early grass, starting with the first warmth of spring and affording a good bite sooner than almost any other. It is of unusually rapid growth, no one exceeding it in the quickness and vigor with which it shoots forth after being cut or eaten off, and it continues to grow until the ground freezes. It affords a good supply of foliage, the leaves being numerous, and if allowed to grow, reaching a height of two feet or more, with comparatively few flowering stems or seed stalks. It bears drouth better than other grasses, remaining green and vigorous when many others are dried up, and its roots being near the surface it is refreshed and invigorated by showers which produce no effect on clover. It is also one of the most permanent of grasses, being very tenacious of life when once fairly established. Orchard grass is less exhausting than Timothy, will bear considerable shade, succeeds well on all tolerably dry, friable soils of medium quality, and is said to be particularly adapted to those of a slaty character. Judge Buel says of it-"Orchard grass is one of the most abiding grasses we have. Its early and rapid growth and its resistance of drouth render it peculiarly adapted to pasture, but all agree that to obtain its greatest value it should be kept closely cropped. Sheep will pass over every other grass to feed upon it. * * In July, I made a movable calf-pen thirteen feet square, in which two calves ten and twelve weeks old were confined in a field of Orchard grass. The pen was removed twice a day on to fresh feed, and the grass uniformly fed close. The growth was so rapid that the feeding

might be repeated on a good bite every fifth day. It is suited to all arable soils. The seed is easily gathered, but on account of its peculiar lightness (the bushel weighing but twelve to fourteen pounds) the seed should be spread on a floor and sprinkled with water a day or two before it is sown, that it may swell and more readily vegetate. Sow two bushels on an acre with barley or other spring grain." Some recommend as much as three bushels per

acre.

Arthur Young, to whom belongs the credit of having drawn to the culture of grasses in England the attention they deserve, speaks in high commendation of this grass, and took great pains to induce farmers to adopt its cultivation, and particularly as a substitute for Rye grass with clover.

Col. Powell of Pennsylvania, a breeder of fine animals, and a gentleman of scientific attainments, travel and nice observation, says, "I have tried Orchard grass for ten years. It produces more pasturage than any artificial grass I have ever seen in America."

Poa annua-Annual Speargrass. Very common by roadsides and in pastures, especially in the moister pastures. The estimation in which it is held varies greatly both among scientific men and practical farmers.

Mr. Flint in his work on grasses, says "This modest and beautiful grass flowers throughout the whole summer, and forms a very large part of the sward of New England pastures, producing an early and sweet feed, exceedingly relished by cattle."

Prof. Buckman says "In an agricultural point of view, this grass may be considered as a weed, as it has scarcely any feeding properties; and though it sometimes presents an apparently green turf over alluvial flats, and anywhere with a muddy subsoil, such grass affords as the farmers say 'no heart' in it. On some land of Lord de Mauley's, celebrated for scouring cattle, this grass was a prevailing one."

Poa trivialis-Rough Stalked Meadow Grass. This is less common than the Poa pratensis, and may be distinguished from it by the sheaths being rough and the roots being fibrous. It is found only in soils which are quite moist. Sinclair, Parnell, and some other writers, speak very highly of the properties of this grass, but there is reason to believe that it has been overestimated. It is very

late in its growth, and furnishes a good bite of succulent feed at a time when few others do, which may account for the observed partiality of cattle for it at such times. In agricultural value it ranks higher than Poa annua and inferior to Poa pratensis.

Poa pratensis-June Grass--Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass-Spear Grass-Kentucky Blue Grass. (For a cut of this grass see page 72.)

This is one of the most common and widely diffused grasses, and varying much in size and appearance, according to soil and culture. It is an early and excellent pasture grass, and in good soils makes a fair quantity of very good hay. In Ohio and Kentucky, it is known as Blue grass and highly valued, forming the principal feed in the famous Blue grass pastures. It starts early and grows late in autumn, but suffers more than some other grasses from drouth. It is less injured by cold and other climatic changes than almost any other species, and where milder winters prevail, is chiefly depended on for winter pasturage; and where snows cover the ground in winter, the previous year's growth is sometimes eaten in spring, before starting into new growth. Dairy cows fed upon it, will, it is said, furnish butter of superior quality. It grows in nearly all soils, being largest in such as are rich and rather moist. It frequently comes in of itself; does not come to perfection as a pasture grass in less than three or four years, and so is unsuited to alternate husbandry. Its chief value is as a permanent pasture grass. Among English writers, Sinclair and Dixon both say it exhausts the soil more than other grasses; an opinion from which Buckman entirely dissents, saying it exhausts only by producing grass, and "all good grasses exhaust the soil, if taken off in the shape of hay, and this one especially, by reason of its good crops; but such should be invigorated by manuring and good cultivation, for which this species amply repays."

Poa serotina-Fowl Meadow, Swamp Wire Grass, False Red-top. The Fowl Meadow is one of the few valuable grasses indigenous to America, and its excellence has been long known.

Rev. Jared Elliot of Killingworth, Conn., in his Essays on Field Husbandry, published in 1747, says "it is sometimes called Duck

grass, and is supposed to have been

brought into a poor piece of

meadow in Dedham, Mass., by ducks and other wild water fowl,