618 State Board of Agriculture, &c. 



seed forms, is but slightly exhausting to the soil. The I'ur- 

 mer may, then, contract the four acres of planting to three 

 acres. The manure that would have been used on the fourth 

 acre will be enough to fertilize three acres sufficiently for 

 grass. If only two acres are planted, six acres besides may 

 be re-seeded to grass or top-dressed. It is readily seen what 

 a different degree of progress is made in going over the old 

 mowings, ninr* acres being re-stocked every year instead of 

 four. Every additional acre that is made to yield a large 

 crop of grass increases next year's manure heap. I do not 

 desire to be understood as discouraorinfii; the raisino- of grain. 

 Many farmers find it to their advantage to raise much grain 

 every year. But to other farmers it is simply suicidal. 



Thei'e is a prevailing misapprehension as to the needs of 

 the grass crop in respect to the time and manner of sowing, 

 it being supposed that grass seed sown in spring must have 

 grain to shade it, and that it will not do to sow it late in the 

 fall. Grass seed may be sown with good results at any sea- 

 son of the year when the soil is in suitable condition for 

 working. I have sown grass seed from early spring up to 

 November, getting two good crops the next season from 

 seed sown in that month. If very dry weather comes on 

 after the seed germinates, it is likely to perish, whatever the 

 season, or whether sown alone or with grain. The farmer 

 must take the risk of weather, whether the seed is sown in 

 spring, summer or autumn. Spring sown grass will endure 

 drouth quite as well without the shade afforded by grain as 

 with it. 



The soil where grass seed is to be sown should be mellow 

 and fine. If the sod is decayed and mixed with the sub- 



