Agricnturnal.

Colonist, Issue 17, 18 December 1857, Page 2

Agricnturnal.

SAVIKG THE SEED OF RYE GRASS. Ryegrass intended for producing, seed is. either grown alone, or forms part of a mixture with the cultivated clovers. It is, however, exceptional to grow it alone—the greater portion of the, ryegrass of which the seed is saved is grown as an ordinary mixture. The principal district is Ayrshire, and the West of Scotland generally. The seed collected in hay lofts over, the whole of the countrygoes to add to the supply. As most farmers could • advantageously save sufficient seed for their own sowing, we direct attention to the desirableness of such a practice, as in many instances tho introduction of the seeds of weeds is traceable to purchased ryegrass seed. It is worse than folly to be expending much time and labour in freeing fields of the roots of couch, knot grass, docks, &c, and afterwards to sow these unwittingly when the land is seeded with grass-seeds. Many fanners are now cognisant of this, the majority appear to have some indefinite idea that certain weeds if not indigenous to the soil, have a kind of spontaneous growth. There can be no question, however, that no weed can appear without the seed being present or a portion of a root. Land, therefore, which is once thoroughly freed of weeds—seeds and roots— should remain free of such weeds in all time coming, except they are introduced by foul seeds of the cultivated plants, by the manure, or from the seeds of weeds shed by the edgerows. Were - more attention paid to the obtaining of clean seeds, the annual outlay during the cleaning of the preen crop break on arable farms would be greatly lessened. . ; ■ .> Those farmers having a field, or portion of a field, _of'clean ryegi-ass, with no excess of clover, should determine to save the seed. All-that is necessary is to allow the field to. remain uncut some days longer than if the field had been simply intended for hay Ryegrass, when the seed 13 perfected becomes yellow-green in the stalk—some varieties have a darker shade of green, while others have a . brown-reddish or dark-grey tint. The seed of the . ryegrass may be also examined—if pressed betwixt the nails of the thumbs it gives no exudation, the seed is ripe. If allowed to remain a few days beyond the proper time, a- considerable proportion of the seed will be lost, by shedding during the period of cutting, handling, and stacking the hay. Showery weather, particularly if accompanied with sunshine, renders the seed extremely liable to part from the stalk. If is therefore advisable to take the field rather prematurely than td allow, it to remain one day longer than what maybe deemed a ripe state. The ■weight of imperfectly ripened seed is considerably less, but it may not on that account be the less valuable, for sowing. The grass after being cut should be put into coils and saved in the ordinary manner of hay. A better practice is to sheaf the ryegrass in the same* manner as grain crops cut with the scythe—the sheaved being afterwards stooked and stacked in the same manner as oats or barley—the hay being thrashed by the ordinary thrashing machine, or by the use of flails. When the method of sheafing is practised, the swathe should be allowed to lie one day or at most two,'previous to sheaving, the sheaves made rather small than large, and these stooked in twelve sheaves, two of which may be used as hoods. By hooding the stooks, the colour, and consequently the selling value of the seed are kept at the maximum. When the rygrass is saved in the ordinary form • of hay, it is the practice in the west of Scotland, after the grass has been coiled, and previous to being put in the tram rick, to thrash the hay in the field. A lr.oveab'e board is used, and surrounded by canvass, and as the coils are brought to the rick, two men with flails partially beat out the seed—the hay being afterwards placed in ricks. The ryegrass is thus denuded of a portion of the . seed, and the hay is apparently unthrash'ed. Its quality is little if any deteriorated from the seed being separated, as a portion of the seed would have been lost previous to the hay being placed in 1 the horses racks. The deterioration arises not from the loss of the seed but from the stalks being ripened—t'iiis rendered less nutvitive. - Thrashed hay generally sells at aJloVer. price than wellsaved hay, particularly -&frS|i;: the grass has been sheaved and afterwards passed?thvougli a thrashing machine. But most farmers this reduction in value of the seed more, than counterbalances any such reduction. The seed is removed to a granary, and is repeatedly turned to prevent heating, and ■ also to bring it into condition for sale. Exposure to bright sun acts most powerfully in freeing the seed.from moisture; also in improving the colour. When the ryegrass is stacked and thrashing takes place during winter, the seed is ■. generally sufficiently dry for keeping in aloft previous to sowing. The seed shovild-.therofore.be allowed to remain upon the stack till winter or even spring,.thrashing proceeding sowing of the grass seed 3 one or more weeks. The thrashed hay- will then be ured upon the farm, or disposed of. The absence of ihe seed gives greater bulk to the hay, which is sometimes not objected to.by purchasers. The weight of seed varies from fifteen io thirty lbs. per bushel; the later weight is obtained by extra dressing of seed off grass generally" the second or third cutting ; and where the soil is of retentive chrricter, cMmate moist rather than sunny. Tiie quantity of seed varies from fifteen to upwards of thirty bushels per jmpeiial acre. The price varies very considerably. The tendency for some years has been upwards; but the seed merchants generally purchase in.autumn or winter —re-dress the seed and otherwise prepare it for the retail market.- The grower who saves seed for his own sowing does not require to be particular as to dressing: but where a portion is to -be sold T and it is deemed advisable to dress it,- the common hand furrow, with riddles, will generally separate all extraneous matter in the shape of broken straw. There are machines for dressing hay seod, which are useful in separating the seeds of knot grass, and other seeds which are frequently found in foul ryegrass seed. Except the grower is to become an extensive saver of ryegrass seed, such machines are not very necessary—the purchase money being considerable for the best kind. As to the best variety of ryegrass to sow for saving seed, there is considerable diversity of opinion. The cultivator, in saving seed for his own use, should select the common ryegrass, which is, under ordinary circumstances, the best for hay, and for one or even two years' pasture. Italian ryegrass is liable to deteriorate when cultivated in • this country, losing in part its length of Btalk, with breadth of leaves; but such a deterioration should not prevent the saving of seed of grass raised from seed obtained from Tuscany—grown, even the second or "third year in this country; Fields of ryegrass .which contain a mixture of Italian and the more common kinds of ryegrasa may also be saved for seed. In disposing of such sied to a merchant, it is necessary to mention that there is a mixture; otherwise the seller may subject himself to annoyance, if not to damages. There are few farmers who would not willingly pay a full price for clean seed,.but farmers appear to have strong objections to purchase ryegrass seed saved in their own locality. A change of locality may be beneficial, but the first study of the farmer should be to select seed free of those vegetable pests of the farm—couch grass, knot grass, docks, and thistles.— North British Agriculturist. Thb Mystery of Taming Rmns.-Some master* and mistresses mm never tame thfir birds, n>>ver get them Ito be on terms of int.inisoy. The enu*e is evident. There are no feelinsrs of affection in common between' them. They rlo not love tliuir I'irds. The tatter know us much ; and are assnred'y aware that they are kept simply for tho ssike of furnishing amusftin»jiit. We have noted the same unerring sagacity with a'l onr pets—our sqnirre am particular. They would Jn tantiy detect any person who might he preparing, or wishing to play them off, some prno'icnl j ke, and.would to our deep neliirl't, _ f i.sten on .them at once—paving handsomely, ai d in fnl' t for all favours uhout to he receive I. It was however, i:»po««ible for us to anger them. Tlipv too well knew t! • friendiiness of our disposition—si ring whitfc merry roro)* atndKambots we h«d together, loth by day and ni<;l>l up stairs, down stairs, arid in the garden. No douht »| is a wise provision of nature tlmg to endow onr litt'ft friends with inst nctive powers of perception. The f*e« is the ind^x of the mind. They read onr character. • when thpy catch oufr ey».^-KidJ's Trdttiss en , tks ' Garden-WQrbfaty^e. ' . : ;-