586 Grasses and Legumhstous Crops in ITew York 



which prevent the growth of grass and later spoil the hay. If the 

 season is at all dry, the moisture and plant food taken by the 

 grain in midsummer usually results in a poor seeding. 



Few farmers appreciate the possibilities of an acre of hay 

 when grown according to the laws of grass. Clark, of Connecticut, 

 though working on a small scale, and in many things impractical, 

 did demonstrate these possibilities and thereby conferred a boon 

 on hay growers. 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCES 



On the hay land referred to, I tried various methods of seeding. 

 When sown with spring grain either " the weeds sprang up and 

 choked the seed," or " when the sun arose it withei^ed away 

 because it had no depth of root." Then I tried winter grain, 

 which was better so far as the seed was concerned; but, when I 

 put the land in condition to grow a large crop of grass, the grain 

 lodged and failed to fill, and the Christianity of the man who 

 ran the binder was sorely tried. The failure of a wheat crop 

 through freezing out, and the late but fine crop of grass instead, 

 led me to ask the question, " Why the grain crop at all if one can 



Fig. 627. A Timothy Crop in Columbia County. Three tons to the 

 AcREj Second Year's Cutting. Sowed Without a Nurse Chop. 



