318 



and the chances of surviving the first year's trials are de- 

 cidedly greater than when the planting is postponed until 

 spring. 



Pastures and Grasses Suitable foe Making Hat. 



The preparation of the land for the establishment of a 

 first-class pasture must be accomplished in the same manner 

 as that given for making a lawn. Plow deep and thoroughly, 

 fertilize with stable manure or ground bone, cottonseed meal 

 and nitrate of soda. A good formula is as follows : 



PER ACRE. 



Ground bone 300 to 400 lbs. 



Cottonseed meal . . 100 lbs. 



Nitrate of soda 50 to 100 lbs. 



The harrow must be run over the land in order to reduce 

 the soil to an even condition and completely pulverize it. 

 Sow the seed at the rate of 50 to 60 pounds per acre, and sow 

 on a day when the air is in least commotion, so that there 

 may be a uniform scattering of the seeds ; otherwise the 

 grass will come up in thick and thin patches, making an 

 unsightly pasture. After the seed has been properly scat- 

 tered run the roller over the land, or if a roller is not avail- 

 able, brush drawn over the field several times will cover the 

 the seed. It is best to sow just before a rain, to insure 

 germination. 



In order to produce a pasture throughout most of the 

 year, the species of grasses may be mixed which mature their 

 seeds at different seasons of the year. For instance, barnyard 

 grass is a summer species, and rescue grass gives a green 

 sward late in the fall. Texas blue grass is a so-called winter 

 grass, although it also produces one of the best grasses for 

 summer grazing and for making hay. Mixing these grasses 

 in proportions to furnish 50 to 60 pounds of seed per acre 

 will give continued pasturage throughout most of the year. 

 There is nothing better, however, than a field occupied alone 

 by Texas blue grass or by Bermuda, to be used for either 

 pasturing cattle or to be allowed to grow and cut for hay. 



