SEEDING TO GRASS WITH GRAIN. 7 



The cases are rare where the seeding with grain of any kind 

 will not entail a loss of from twenty to twenty-five per cent, in 

 the quantity and value of the grass crop for some years in suc- 

 cession. This will be the case in more than seven lots in ten, 

 and if, in some instances, the result is satisfactory, it still holds 

 good, as a general rule, that it would have been far more satis- 

 factory had the grass seed been sown alone. 



It is clear enough on a moment's reflection that a grain crop 

 of any kind, the oat especially, draws from the soil the nutri- 

 ment which is essential to the early life and growth of the grass. 

 The result is a feeble and tender root, and an equally weak and 

 sickly stalk. If here and there a delicate plant struggles along 

 till a July sun, when the grain is cut and the shade which has 

 enfeebled its growth is suddenly removed, the chances are that it 

 will quickly yield to its fate and die. But myriads of seeds have 

 done less even than this, and died from want of the food which 

 the grain has robbed them of, almost as soon as they germinated. 

 The loss and waste of grass seed, by this course alone, is per- 

 fectly enormous. One would suppose that seed costing from 

 three to five dollars a bushel, like orchard grass and Timothy, or 

 from six to eight dollars, like redtop, would be husbanded with 

 greater care. 



Now nothing is more true than that the grass and hay crop 

 is the main stay of our farming. We are greatly dependent 

 upon it. Moreover, it is admitted by the wisest and most expe- 

 rienced farmers among us, that a grass farm and the production 

 of hay is about the most profitable branch of agriculture in this 

 State. Why then, should not our grass seed, for which we pay 

 so much, have an equal chance for life and strength of growth 

 with our other and less expensive seeds ? Why should we 

 smother so large a percentage of it out of existence and deprive 

 the remainder of the vitality and vigor which a free growth in 

 the sun and the exclusive use of all the elements of its life and 

 health in our stingy soils alone can give ? We are not apt to 

 be so improvident in smaller things ; w T hy should we be so in 

 this, that has so important a bearing upon the great staple of 

 our farming industry ? 



I am prepared both from experience and observation to say 

 and to maintain, — 



