IQO BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



two are so closely allied, that if one fails both fail, and if the hay 

 crop fails, then fails the State of Maine. 



In seeding cultivated fields something more is necessary — and 

 first, draining; then manuring and clean cultivation. By clean 

 cultivation, I mean, raise nothing but the crop intended. Every 

 weed allowed to mature its seed, takes not only from the culti- 

 vated crop, but spreads its thousands for the succeeding crop. It 

 is true that grass will in time overcome most weeds, but it can 

 never kill the seeds that lie buried beneath the surface, and when 

 that land is again plowed they spring up like the hydra-headed 

 monster. It is easier to kill one weed than the thousands that 

 follow. After these things are successfull}^ done, then a thorough 

 pulverization of the soil. 



Most grass seeds germinate best at the depth of one-fourth of 

 an inch or less, and at the depth of half an inch or more, usually 

 fail. It is yet the practice in some places to harrow in grass seed ; 

 and at the same the surface of the soil is partially covered with 

 loose stones, tough sods and hard clods of earth ; and farmers 

 who follow this custom are continually complaining of their poor 

 success in seeding to grass. Is any one present surprised at the re- 

 sult ? If you wish to succeed in this you must first remove loose 

 stones, and crush those clods to powder ; and then harrowing will 

 cover a large portion of the seeds too deeply. The harrowing 

 should all be done before the grass seed is sown, and after that, 

 the roller alone should be used. 



But with the utmost care in seeding, in our usual way, we often 

 find in newly seeded meadows, as well as in old fields, large 

 patches of soil between the roots of grass entirely naked. There 

 may be several caiises for this ; and one may be the use of poor 

 seed ; another, probably, is the want of a sufficient quantity, and 

 the third, certainly, is the want of a proper variety. And this 

 leads mo to the next division of my subject, viz : 



Tlie Varieties of the Grasses. 

 In speaking of the grasses, I shall include rod clover, ag that is 

 sown with the grasses and for the same purpose. It is the custom 

 among a large portion of our farmers to seed with herds-grass and 

 red clover, using about 40 lbs. to the acre. If a man has a field 

 of light sandy land, he uses 20 lbs. of clover and 12 quarts of 

 herds-grass, and if he has another field of wet, clayey land, he 

 uses 12 quarts of herds-grass and 20 lbs. of clover; no distinction 



