INDIANA   FARMER.
TOL II.]
Devoted to Agriculture, Horticulture, Mechanics and the Useful Arts,
(WO. 12.
1>. P,
t. lEiX*. Eiitort-)      RICHMOND, IND., -FEBRUARY 15, 1853.      («
t lo way As Co .,
Publishers.
(JTommumcations'for tlje farmer.
For the Indiana Farmer.
Grasses.
Mr. Editor—I have thought for some time,
of expressing my views in relation to the different kinds of grasses—particularly timothy and
herd's grass or red top—as there seems to be
such a diversity of opinions, and so many that
write to the Hon. Thomas Ewbank, Commissioner of Patents, speak in such high terms of
the latter. It has been my settled opinion for
thirty years that herd grass is far inferior to timothy for hay, both in yield per acre and nutritive qualities. I have been so fully satisfied of
these facts for many years, that I have avoided
sowing any on my farm; also the sowing of any
timothy s^ed that was mixed with it. Why,
say many of the farmers, stock eat hay made
of herd grass with apparently as good an appetite as hay made of timothy. The poor things
are obliged to eat a large quantity if they live
on it, it is so light. I would advise every farmer who prizes his own interest never to sow
herd grass where the field is dry enough to produce timothy. True, herd grass will grow in
wet or swampy land where timothy will not;
but in that case I don't know but eventually it
would be better to commence draining the land
and make it susceptible of producing timothy.
I am like to be tedious, but I will relate one
experiment and then close. In 41£ degrees
north latitude, I had two "meadows, one princi-
fally herd, the other pure timothy. In the fall
divided my stock, and put a part on timothy
hay and the balance on herd, and the result
was, those on timothy came out much the best
in the spring, notwithstanding they had no
shedding or bed, only around the stack they had
access to, whilst those on the other meadow
were well shedded and regularly bedded.
Respectfully,
Jeremiah McBride.
For the Farmer.
Messrs. Editors: —Will some of your
knowing readers answer the following enquiries for the benefit of a rather raw farmer?
A creek some dozen yards wide runs through
my land. I want to fence to it on each bank,
and throw some sort of a contrivance across,
sufficient to keep cattle and hogs out. The
water is quite deep and sluggish, being back
water from a mill-dam; but gets low in the Summer. -Will some'experienced farmer enlighten
me?
In that same creek's bottom is a deadening,
the Ironweeds are getting a pretty strong hold.
Is there any way under the sun to destroy them?
A NEW FARMER.
Martinsville, Ind.
For the Indiana. Farmer.
Farmers are Religious, too.
When at Indianapolis, a few weeks since, tho
hotels being all exceedingly crowded with members of the legislature, office seekers and members of the State Board of Agriculture, my landlord inquired if I would go into a room with another gentleman, stating at the same time, "that
he was a member of the State Board of Agriculture," to which I replied in the affirmative.
Although I had seen my room-mate once before,
I had little chance of knowing anything of him,
and, as a matter of course had some anxiety to
knoiv whether I was with a ruffian ot a gentleman, Christian or infidel. My new friend and
myself were soon engaged in a very agreeabla
chat on agricultural subjects, and the evening
passed very pleasantly. I became sleepy and
retired to bed—my new friend seemed to linger
behind for some purpose—he began slowly to
prepare for bed—blew out the candle, kneeled
down and presented himself to God in prayer.
Yes, he brought his religion to the capital with
him, and I can but acknowledge that my love
for my Baptist brother was greatly increased—
for such I afterwards found him to be.        C.
January 17, 1853.
For the Indiana Farmer.
Tho Mud.
Neighbor A. I believe your barn-yard is about
as muddy as mine.
This remark was made a few mornings since,
as a neighbor was wading from the barn door in
mud shoe-top deep to dry land, some distance
off. I freely acknowledge that 1 felt some comfort in "misery's having company."
How is it with you, readers of the Indiana
Farmer? Have any of you muddy, barn yards,
stable yards, &c? If you have, I propose to
covehant with you that before another winter,
we give the barn-yard mud as feed to the crops,
and havo a few loads of gravel spread in its
place. This might save considerable in the
way of sore heels to horses, and in boots and
shoes to owners. I am reminded, somehow, of
the apology of the man whose house was without a roof—"when it is dry it does not need one,
and when it is raining it i* too wet to put it on.
C.
J&T Our friends W. T. Dennis & Co., have
just received a large lot of superrior Hay, Grass
and field seeds; consisting of Glover, Timothy,
Kentucky Blue Grass and Orchard Grass, Osage Orange, (direct from Texas,) Fumpkin seed,
Hemp and Tobacco, together with a great'assortment of fresh and reliable Garden seeds,
which they are selling at the lowest figures.—
Call and see them.