SECRETARY'S REPORT. 155 



The number of seeds of each species in a pound, may be 

 found, of course, by multiplying the numbers in column three 

 by sixteen, the number of ounces in a pound. It is obvious, 

 however, that these numbers must vary, like the number of 

 pounds in a bushel, for it is evident that the lighter the seed, the 

 greater will be the number of seeds in a pound. Tbe numbers 

 stated are the average obtained by careful and repeated trials. 



The results obtained in columns 4, 5 and 6, were obtained 

 by careful experiment, and will be found to be very suggestive. 



The fact that the soil used in the experiments to ascertain the 

 proper depth of covering was kept moist during the process of 

 germination, though freely exposed to the light, accounts for 

 the large number of seeds germinated Avithout any covering 

 wliatever. In ordinary field culture some slight covering is 

 desirable ; but, the figures in column 6 shoAV the important fact 

 that in our modes of sowing and covering there must be a 

 great loss of seed from burying too deep, though the depth 

 should be governed somewhat by the nature of the soil, as its 

 usual moisture or dryness. 



I have already expressed my opinion that we limit our mix- 

 tures to too few species, thus failing to arrive at the most profit- 

 able results, and have said that, in a piece of land seeded with 

 one or two favorite grasses only, small vacant spaces will be 

 found, which, in the aggregate will diminish very considerably 

 the yield of an acre, even though they may be so small as not 

 to be perceived. It might be thought that this could be 

 avoided l)y putting into the ground a very large number of 

 seeds. But a knowledge of the quantities of seed ordinarily 

 used in this State for sowing, and an inquiry as to the number 

 of plants necessary to cover the ground with a thick coating of 

 grass, will show that this is not the case. I have in my posses- 

 sion letters from some of the best farmers in Berkshire, Plymouth 

 and other counties of the Commonwealth, in which they state it 

 to be the prevailing practice to sow a bushel of redtop, a half 

 bushel of Timothy, and from four to six pounds of red clover to 

 the acre. Some of them vary the proportions a little, as by the 

 use of one peck of Timothy and a larger quantity of clover, 

 but the general practice is to use nearly the quantities stated, 

 some even using a considerable larger quantity. Now if we ex- 

 amine the table we shall iind that in an ounce of redtop seed there 



