Orchard Grass.—In most mixtures recommended for pasture orchard grass has a place, but it should be a minor one. It makes early growth in the spring, which is a point in its favor. It stands shade and also drouth better than some other grasses, but is not at home in a poor or wet soil. It grows in bunches, and becomes unpalatable if not promptly grazed. It needs crowding with other grasses when grown for pasturage. When seeded alone for hay, 30 pounds of seed per acre may be used.

Other Seeds.—There are other grasses often recommended, but they have no wide acceptance. Meadow fescue is a palatable grass that would be used more often in pasture mixtures if the seed were not high in price. All land seeded for grazing should have some clover sown for sake of soil fertility. The alsike remains longer than the red or mammoth, and is better for undrained, thin, and acid soils.

Yields and Composition of Grasses.—The Ohio station has compared the yields of various grasses and their composition. The following table is arranged from its data, as given in Bulletin 225:

Name Average
Tons Hay
per Acre 		Pounds
Protein
per
Hundred 		Pounds
Protein
per Acre
Timothy 3.49 6.38 223
Blue-grass 2.18 10.12 221
Red-top 2.81 8.53 240
Orchard grass 2.19 7.81 171
Meadow fescue 2.10 8.97 188

Suggested Mixtures for Pastures.—For ordinary conditions, Williams suggests the following mixture for an acre of land:

Blue-grass 10 pounds
Timothy 6 pounds
Red-top 6 pounds
Orchard grass 4 pounds
Red clover 4 pounds
Alsike clover 2 pounds

For use on rather wet lands, and especially off the limestone, he suggests:

Red-top 12 pounds
Blue-grass 8 pounds
Timothy 4 pounds
Alsike clover 4 pounds

Hunt recommends the following as a basis, to be modified to suit varying conditions:

Timothy 15 pounds
Kentucky blue-grass 10 pounds
Meadow fescue 2 pounds
Red clover 4 pounds
Alsike clover 3 pounds
White clover 2 pounds