SECRETARY'S REPORT. 147 



plough, and seed in Angnst, after spreading on a coat of manure 

 to give the grass an early start." A farmer of Franklin coimty, 

 writes : " I consider the month of Avigust as the best time to 

 seed down land for mowing, with the exception of clover, and 

 that I sow early in spring." Anotlier from Hampden : " I 

 think August or the early part of September is the best time to 

 seed down grass land, as in the fall of the year it will get root 

 and not be burned up by the sun, as it would be in spring." 

 Another says : " I sow from the middle of August to the middle 

 of September. If sown in spring with oats or other grain, the 

 young grass is liable to be suramer-killed, either choked by the 

 ranker growth of the grain, or scorched by the hot sun when 

 the grain is taken off. If sown in spring without grain there is 

 one season lost." 



A farmer on the Connecticut River states, that " If tlie sea- 

 son is not too dry, August is a good month to seed for mowing. 

 Have had very good success in seeding with turnips, or grass 

 seed alone, in August or September, to mow the next year ; but 

 the usual practice here is to seed with wheat or rye in Septem- 

 ber or October. Some seed in . spring witli oats, but generally 

 it does not do well. Clover is more often sown in the spring, 

 because it winter-kills." Another, writing from the northern 

 part of Worcester county, says : " There is a difference of 

 opinion among farmers in this region on this subject ; some 

 prefer to sow the grass seed with the spring grain in May, while 

 others prefer to sow in August. The latter, no doubt, is the 

 best practice, if the ground is sufficiently moist." 



A very successful farmer of Berkshire, advises, " August or 

 September. I have sown in the month of October with good 

 success. Seed sown in August obtains more root than when 

 sown later, and consequently, is not as liable to winter-kill. It 

 also starts earlier the succeeding spring, thereby keeping down 

 the weeds. Much of our moist meadow lands, — too wet for 

 hoed crops, and producing but light crops of grass, and that of 

 an inferior quality, — may be made to produce well by plough- 

 ing and seeding. Let them be ploughed deep in August or 

 September, the surface well-harrowed and covered with a light 

 coat of compost, ashes or barnyard manure, and seeded, and 

 the next year the crop will repay all expense." But on the 

 other hand, a practical farmer on the island of Martha's Vine- 



