File:American farmers' manual (1903) (17933673699).jpg

Title: American farmers' manual
Identifier: americanfarmersm19pete_0 (find matches)
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Peter Henderson & Co; Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection
Subjects: Vegetables Seeds Catalogs; Farms Catalogs; Grasses Seeds Catalogs
Publisher: New York : Peter Henderson & Co.
Contributing Library: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Digitizing Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

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■PETER HENDERSON ^CO., IMEW YORK-
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OFFEl?ED OH PAGES 2 RflD 3. EXTRACTS FROM SOBIE OF THE TRIBUTES OF PRAISE BY THE AGRICUI.TURAI. PRESS. From "Country Gentleman," published in Albany, N. Y. GRASS CUI^XURE. By invitation of Messrs. Peter Henderson & Co. of New York, a represent- ative of this paper visited their e.xperinieiital firtiss plats. To reproduce English turf in tlieface of American drouths and heat ma.v not bepossilde; to better the common clover and timothy practice, with its frequent thin results and speedy running out, is svirely feasible. Instead of tliree or four varieties, ten to fifteen or tweutv are used; tall and short grasses, coarse and fine, late and early sorts, are deftly combined in vary- ing proportions according to the end in view. Below the taller grasses was a thick mat of finer kinds, and the close, rich turf hid every particle of soil. There did not seem to be room for another spear of grass. Going over to an ordinary timothy meadow near by, the contrast was striking. The individiial spears in a foot square could easily be covmted; "standing-room" for more was abundant. The soil had not been '"worked for all it w^as worth," and the thoughtful farmer might do some sviggestive figviring. From "American Agriculturist," published in New York City. BEST ORASSES FOR. HAY AND EOR PASTURE. By a judicious choice of seeds, mixtures have been effected which will give con- stant pasturage in this climate from earl.v spring until late in the autumn. Timothy, and in many parts "timoth.y and clover," is the standard grass in the country. While timothy is a valuable grass, there are some other kinds so much better, which last longer, yield a heavier crop, will stand various climatic and soil conditions better, it is astonishing that the ma,iority of farmers should still stick to the timothy without even giving one or more of the otherkindsand mixtures a fair trial. It should be remembered that a discriminate mixture of grasses and clover gives a better restilt than does any kind grown by itself, for the simple reason that mixtures are bound to grow closer to- gether on the grovmd, and thereby their component species protect one another from undvie heat and drought. Such mixtures are far superior to timothy or "timothy and clover," or any one grass, costing but a little more, lasting much longer, and giving frequently more than double the yield. From "Farm and Home," published in Upringlield, Mass. MORE HAY A)ND BETTER PASTURE. Bare pastures are a source of loss to the farmer. The broad acres that must be devoted to grass are paying taxes and interest, and if not covered with luxuriant hay and pasture are breeding weeds. If seeded with well-proportioned mixtures of i)roper grasses, even the steep hillside will yield pasture and hay, whi(di every farmer knows is rich with money. The tendency to run out and the many thin stands obtained with timothy and clover, or with any separate grasses, led to the trial of mixtures of imported and other grasses which have become naturalized in America. The natural sod is formed of a mixture of many grasses, each variety having a certain use in meeting the varying conditions of growth. The enormous yield of nearly 4Mj tons of good hay per acre should convince any one that more hay and better pasture can be grown with mixtures than with timothy and clover alone, as, under the very same conditions, the latter yielded less than a ton and a half (2,760 lbs.) per acre. From."Rural New Yorker," published in New York City. THE VAI^UE OE GRASS SEED MIXTURES. This firm (P. H. & Co.) has been engaged in a long series of experiments in making up mixtures of grass seeds forhayandpermanent pasture, and also for lawns. The underlying idea seems to be that these different grasses, having different i-oot systems, will occupy the ground more fully if a number of different kinds are sown together. The fiist piece we visited was one that was seeded with about three bushels per acre of Henderson's Special Grass Mixture for Hay and Permanent Pasture for Light Soil. Mow- ing had begun in this plot, and it was so thick on the bottom that much difficulty was experienced in getting the mower through it. The earliness of the grasses as com- pared with Timothy is a desirable feature, as the haying season comes on at a time when there is little pressing work going on, and the hay is all in the barn before grain harvest. Few of the old-time methods of seed- ing Tvill give an amount of hay equal to this first ciitting,and after thehayisoflf, the grasses will startup againsoquick- ly that fine pasturage will be afforded, or at least I'/atonper acre more hay may be cut in August or September. 1

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