30 CIRCULAR NO. 115, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



As it was not used in a pure seeding, it is uncertain whether its 

 failure was due to the nature of the soil or to the competition with 

 the more vigorously growing brome-grass. 



In mixture No. 3 western wheat-grass and alfalfa have done well 

 and show a good covering three years after planting. No doubt 

 brome-grass would do as well as western wheat-grass in mixtures 

 with alfalfa under most conditions; and it can be used more exten- 

 sively, since the seed is more easily obtained. 



Mixture No. 4 made a good showing during the first and second 

 years, but has not proved permanent. The redtop, however, still 

 survives near the water's edge. 



PREPARATION OF SOIL AND SEEDING. 



In order to insure a successful growth of grass it is necessary to 

 have the soil in as favorable a condition as possible. There must be 

 a well-prepared seed bed — the soil should be fine, firm, and moist — 

 in order to insure a quick and continuous growth of the grass. A 

 good preparation is to harrow the canal bank at frequent intervals 

 during one summer, so as to prevent the growth of weeds and con- 

 serve as much moisture *as possible. This will put the soil in good 

 condition for seeding early the following spring. 



The seed may be sown broadcast by hand, or, in case a large area 

 is to be seeded, a hand seeder may be used to advantage. The soil 

 should be harrowed before seeding and the seed covered by harrow- 

 ing again after seeding. In covering the seed, the harrow teeth 

 should be set at a slight angle, so as not to dig too deeply. A com- 

 mon 2-horse steel harrow is convenient for this work. 



From 15 to 30 pounds of seed per acre, depending upon the kind 

 of seed and the condition of the seed bed, should be enough to secure 

 a good stand of grass. Any heavier rate of seeding will hardly com- 

 pensate for poor soil conditions. The smaller seeds, such as redtop, 

 need not be sown as heavily as the larger seeded grasses. A heavy 

 growth of grass can not be expected on the drier parts of the canal 

 banks, and yet on account of the less favorable conditions there a 

 liberal quantity of seed should be used. 



It is very important that the planting should be done early, in 

 order to give the young grass the benefit of the cooler growing 

 weather and the early summer rains. Competition from weeds, 

 especially Russian thistle, is also less during the early summer. The 

 best results have been obtained by seeding in April rather than later. 

 Live stock should not be allowed on the banks after seeding until a 

 sod is well established. Even then, close grazing should not be al- 

 lowed if a permanent sod is to be maintained. 



[Cir. 115] 



