SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



143 



For dry sandij or gravelly soils. 



Red Top, 3 lbs. 



Tall Oat Grass, 3 



Red Fescue Grass, 4 



June Grass, 4 



Meadow Soft Grass, 3 



Timothy, 3 



For reclaimed bogs of peaty or mucky soil 



Italian Rye Grass, 

 Perennial Rye Grass, 

 Yellow Clover, 

 White Clover, 



2 lbs. 

 3 



3 

 2 



6 

 5 



Perennial Rye Grass, 

 Italian Rye Grass, 

 Yellow Clover, 

 Perennial Clover, 

 White Clover, 



4 lbs. 

 6 

 4 

 4 



.58 lbs. 



6 lbs. 

 10 

 2 

 o 



Tall Oat Grass, 

 Orchard Grass, 

 Rough Stalked Meadow 



Grass, 

 Meadow Foxtail, 

 Hard Fescue, 

 Timothy, 5 ' 43 lbs. 



Upon peatj soils with us, Timothy usually succeeds remarkably 

 ■well, and should form a large proportion of the seed. 



The above examples are sufficient to convey an idea of the neces- 

 sity which exists in the opinion of those most conversant with the 

 subject, of employing a greater number of species of grass in seeding 

 down than is customary among us. It is in fact deemed indispensa- 

 ble to the best success. 



My report for 1857 embraced statements from a number of prac- 

 tical farmers as to the amount of seed required per acre. In this 

 connexion it is believed that the following table compiled from Law- 

 son's Treatise on the Grasses, and a prize essay of J. D. Sterling's, 

 will be found of value : 



Column 1. — Contains name of the grass. 



" 2. — The average weight of the seeds per bushel, in pounds. 



" 3. — The average number of seeds in one ounce. 



" 4. — Shows in inches, the depth of cover, at which the 



greatest number of seeds germinated. 

 " 5. — Shows, in inches, the depth of cover at which only about 



half the number shot into growth. 

 " 6. — Shows, in inches, the least depth of cover at which none 



of the seeds shot into growth. 



mentioned to me by a foreigner of great attainments in agriculture, as an e.xceedingly 

 nutritive one, and probably well adapted for cultivation upon our clayey loams. I 

 have not known of ita being tried in this country. 



