13.

LITERATURE--Robin, Dear Robin, Poetry, Page 14; Mrs. Wimbush's
Revenge, 14.

HUMOROUS--The Carpenter's Wooing, Poetry, Page 15; Where the
Old Maids Come From, 15; Items, 15.

NEWS OF THE WEEK--Page 16.

MARKETS--Page 16.

TALL MEADOW OAT-GRASS.

Prof. John W. Robson, State Botanist of Kansas, sends THE PRAIRIE FARMER
an extract from his last report, concerning a tame grass for hay and
pasturing which is new to that State. The grass has been on trial on an
upland farm for two years, during which time he has watched it very
closely. The Professor says, "It possesses so many excellent qualities
as to place it in the front rank of all cultivated grasses." He
enumerates from his notes:

1st. The seed will germinate and grow as easily as common oats. 2d. It
maintains a deep green color all seasons of the year. 3d. Its roots
descend deeply into the subsoil, enabling this grass to withstand a
protracted drouth. 4th. Its early growth in spring makes it equal to rye
for pasturage. 5th. In the next year after sowing it is ready to cut for
hay, the middle of May--not merely woody stems, but composed in a large
measure of a mass of long blades of foliage. The crop of hay can be cut
and cured, and stowed away in stack or barn, long before winter wheat
harvest begins. 6th. It grows quickly after mowing, giving a denser and
more succulent aftermath than any of the present popular tame grasses.

For several years, he says, we have been looking for a grass that would
supply good grazing to our cattle and sheep after the native grasses
have become dry and tasteless. In the early portion of 1881, his
attention was called to a tame grass which had been introduced into the
State of Michigan from West Virginia. This forage plant was causing some
excitement among the farmers in the neighborhood of Battle Creek. So he
entered into a correspondence with a friend living there, and obtained
ten pounds of seed for trial. The result has been satisfactory in every
respect. The seed was sown April 1, 1881. It germinated quickly, and the
young plants grew vigorously. During the whole summer they exhibited a
deep-green color, and did not become brown, like blue-grass, orchard
grass, or timothy. As soon as the spring of 1882 opened, growth set in
rapidly, and continued till the latter end of May, at which period it
stood from three to four feet high. At this time it was ready for the
mower; but as the production of seed was the obje