1 When mature the seed, the stems and branches are hard, sapless, and of little worth for anything like feed. This straw, as it is called, is useful as litter for the barn-yard; it aids in making up the compost heaps, and here more by its bulk than any strong fertilizing power it possesses. The grasses too, like the grain plant, when allowed to go to seed, exhaust the land more by standing longer upon it; they draw from it some of its richest ingredients which the plants require to ripen their seeds. The stubble of such grasses have no succulent matter in them, and the after math, the young grass, or second crop, will not grow up near as soon nor as rich. How can they? they cannot spring from the remains of the old stems if they are in the habit of doing it when green, the stems are dry and dead, the roots or some of them are often dead too; these take time for revival. the young blades do spring up from either or any source, they cannot come up as thick or grow as vigorously, so much of their nourishment has been consumed in maturing the parent plants. The reason given by some that grass if cut late when the seed is hard, is drier, it may be cured better and with less labor for hay. This reason has very little weight when we consider the quantity of fine weather we usually have about the time of hay-making, greater, much, than many European countries, and especially Great Britain. A few hours sooner or later in curing cannot be of much moment, and neither this nor any other reason given for late cutting it, is thought ought to have the least weight when compared with the great sacrifice of nutriment and other injuries stated, must necessarily flow from the practice. Timothy has been excepted from the general rule of cutting in the flower, but by no means to wait till the seed is hard; the best time it is thought for cutting is immediatety or soon after the flower has fallen. Timothy, in habits and character, resembles more the grain plant; its stem is thicker and stronger, it grows higher where the soil is rich than most of the grasses: it has more silica or sand in its coating, and is longer in attaining its full size. Hence the juices are longer in reaching all its parts from the root to the culmen, and condensing a little so as to acquire their richest consistence. It is thought that even this plant would suffer less and the injury generally be less if cut in the flower than to let it stand until after the seed is ripe. Timothy 'too, when cut late, has given rise to the impression made on some that it is a hard, coarse, dry grass; the late cutting is generally the reason why it is so, and why some have been so impressed. Considerable nas been said in discussing this point, it was thought important, as mischief is believed to have resulted from a practice here considered decidedly erroneous. The origin and probable cause of the error having been pointed out, and the more recent researches of science having shown it to be one, and this being in accordance with the opinion of a large majority of the most intelligent practical farmers, it is hoped and believed the practice under it will in time be entirely abandoned. Most of the grasses, and especially timothy, when growing big and rank on good land and in a fine season, are apt to lodge and fall; in this state they should be immediately cut, even if there is no appearance of the flower and may not be for some time. Otherwise laying on the ground thick the lower part becomes brown, it will heat and ferment, and the whole deteriorate much in quality. Timothy, it is thought, does best on a clay loam; like most of the grasses it requires considerable moisture, and in addition to the humidity the soil must be rich, possessing the mineral ingredients in due proportion, combined with plenty of decayed animal and vegetable matter. Timothy being perennial, is excellent to form permanent pastures where it will grow; many of the natural meadow grasses will spring up and grow with it, being of a kindred nature and similar in habits, the soil good, the climate and degree of moisture of the one are congenial with the other. Some of these social grasses have no regular common names, many of them are short and belong to the dwarf family of grasses, but are succulent, and make a rich, nutritious feed. A close carpet of such grasses spread over a low or upland meadow, properly located, soil fine, and with judicious management as to feeding, cleaning, and occasional top-dressings, will last good for many years, with scarcely a rent patch or vacant spot in it. Timothy and all grasses may be cut too young for good hay. At an early period of their growth their juices are thin and watery, have not acquired the requisite consistence, exhale or dry up and are lost; the stems become wiry, hard, and have none or very little nutritive matter in them. In some parts of Germany they cut their grasses quite young, and gather them up immediately and put them, in a perfectly green state, in pits under ground, salt them in layers with the best of salt, and compress them close by weights and let them ferment for a while, letting nothing escape from exhalation, [Assembly No. 199.1 10 preserving all the juices; and these in time, with the dissolved salt form a rich paste, matted and adhering to the stems, equally diffused through the whole mass. In this state, when taken out in winter, it is sweet and fragrant; cattle eat it greedily, will thrive on it, and much less of it serves. The usage is stated here, and probably in correctly, as nothing is practically known of the process in ou country, not with any expectation of its being adopted or tried, but to show what can be done with the article grass, in its green state, and how essential its natural juices are to make the best forage, as well as pasturage. Redtop, or as it is generally called south of us, herdsgrass, and by some redtop timothy, is an excellent grass; it has something of the character and habits of timothy so called; it requires a humid, rich soil, one in which clay predominates; rather a bushy top, composed of several small stems, shooting out from the main one laterally, near the top; rich in juices, makes fines hay; cattle are fond of it; should be cut about the time of timothy, or when in full flower, it matters little which. Orchard grass, or cocksfoot; much esteemed by many, especially in Pennsylvania and some other States; it is highly valued for both pasture and forage; rich sandy loam suits it best. One remarkable quality it possesses, is to start up and grow immediately from the stem, when cut or fed off, not waiting for fresh shoots to spring up from its roots, nor the healing of its wounds, and has been known on good soils to grow an inch in twenty-four hours from the time of cutting. Messrs. H. Powell and L. Jones, of Pennsylvania, speak highly of it; thick sowing necessary, great care in gathering and preparing the seed. Mr. Powell recommends at least two bushels to the acre. The great objection to it with some who have cultivated it, is that it will grow in tussocks or detached bunches, leaving naked spots, which are not easily filled up with other perennial grasses. Whether this was owing to the habits of the plant, too thin sowing, or any other cause, is not known. Kentucky Blue grass. This is the favorite grass, and deservedly so, of the west. Kentucky soil and climate seem to be most con genial with it, and is said to be its native locality, although it grows well, and even luxuriantly, in many other sections. It is the best grass for woodlands of the west, when cleared of their underwood, rubbish and decayed trees; these are cut, dug up, collected and burnt, the ashes supplying the soil with potash, so necessary to the growth of plants, and especially grasses. These woodlands, on many large farms of the west, are extensive; they are thus rendered both beautiful and useful, by being converted into shady lawns and fine pastures. This is not the only valuable quality of blue grass, that it grows more luxuriantly on woodlands than any other grass. Its superiority as a rich and permanent pasture on cleared, open fields, is equally great, and greater, it is thought, for Kentucky and the western country generally, than any other. It should be sown in the spring; a calcareous soil, or that of limestone regions, is the best for it. It is a very delicate plant when it first comes up, and should not be grazed for a year unless very vigorous, and not then till the seeds mature; these fall down and thicken the bed, enrich and strengthen it; and with such management a luxuriant coat of blue grass succeeds, and lasts it may be said forever, or certainly as long as desired, without any further trouble. further trouble. Besides, it grows more nutritious with advancing age, and will ultimately root out every other grass, even the native white clover; and no other can compare with it as a winter grass. It not only grows in the warm spells of winter, but if the second growth of summer be reserved for winter grazing, it is an excellent pasture for horses and cattle throughout that drear period. Both of these keep in the best condition upon it, and without any other food, except in cases of deep snows, which do not often occur, when a little hay is necessary. An eminent Kentucky farmer, has said "he had no doubt he could raise large fat beeves on blue grass and nothing else." The great errors to be guarded against are early spring feeding and over stocking, especially when young and tender, aud before its gets a vigorous start. Whether it would make as good hay as timothy and redtop, or even clover, some doubt. It is thought, though, from its habits and qualities, if properly cured, it would make as good hay as any other grass. We have in our State a native blue grass, so called, it is thought not to be genuine Kentucky blue grass; ours is a dark green, a little bent, requires a moist clay, rich soil; does not grow tall, but short and thick on the ground, has no tinge of blue; the Kentucky kind, held in a certain position to the light, has a perceptible shade of blue. Whether it would grow north on a calcareous soil, and not degenerate, has perhaps never been fairly tried. If it would grow and flourish here as it does in Kentucky or the west, it would certainly be a valuable acquisition to our farms. Clovers. First, Redtop clover is undoubtedly an imported grass, used in most parts of Europe with great benefit; it is also in as general use with us, and with equal benefit. So popular is it almost every where among us; grows in such luxuriance and abundance on almost all soils, at as little risk and labor as any of the nutritious grasses, and less than some of them, especially on good sandy loams; so long cultivated throughout our land, that it is considered in the light of a native, and hardly known or thought to possess a foreign origin. Its system of stems, leaves, roots and foliage, surpass in size, tenderness, beauty and richness any of the grasses, taking all its advantages into consideration. It is equally good for forage and pasture; its long roots penetrate deep into the soil, keep it loose and friable equal to a plowing, and better than some plowings. If the land is in a proper state for the seed, and this good, its growth is so rapid, thick and tall it chokes and destroys all weeds: none can grow among it. When young and succulent, cattle are tempted to eat too much of it when first turned in it, it often gives them the hoove; timothy, orchard grass, &c., sown with it will generally prevent this; it should be cut for hay before the flower is fully blown. It leaves the soil in a fine state for tillage, planting any of the grains, roots or vegetables. It is considered a biennial, at most triennial; it has been known though to last six or seven years on rich land, and with good management. There are several other clovers, some native and others probably foreign, some of the dwarf class very nourishing feed. The White Clover grows low and thick on the ground, and is thought a native, comes up naturally on most untilled soils, especially where clay predominates; it is excellent for milch cows. Smooth-stalked Meadow grass is said to be a native; is well adapted, none perhaps better, to laying down permanent pastures and meadows. An eminent farmer of our country says, it is equal to any |