THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



421 



Botanical Names. 



Agrostis stolonifera 



Aira c;rspitosa 



Alopecuriis pratensis 



Anthoxanthum odoratum 



Arrhenatherum avenaceiim . . , 



Brachypodium sylvaticum 



Dactylis gloraerata , 



Elymus arenarius 



Festuca duriuscula 



„ elatior 



„ elatior, gigantea 



„ heterophylla 



,, ovina 



„ pratensis o . . . . 



Glyceria aquatica 



Holcus lanatus 



Lolium italicum 



„ perenne. . , 



Phleum pratense 



Poa nemoralis, sempervirens. . . 



„ trivialis 



Psamraa arundinacea 



Achillea millefolium 



Lotus corniculatus 



Medicago lupqlina 



Ornobrychio sativa , . . 



Plantago lanceolata 



Poterium sanguisorba 



Trifolium filiforme 



„ hybridum 



„ pratense 



„ pratense perenne . . . 

 „ repens 



Trivial Names, 



Fiorin grass 



Hair grass 



Meadow foxtail-grass ........ 



Sweet-scented vernal-grass . . , . 



Common oat-like grass , 



Wood fescue-grass 



Cocksfoot-grass 



Sea-sand lyme-grass 



Hard fescue-grass 



Tall meadow-grass 



Gigantic meadow-fescue 



Various-leaved hard-fescue . . . . 



Sheep's-fescue 



Meadow-fescue 



Reedy sweet water-grass 



Soft meadow-grass 



Italian rye-grass 



Perennial rye-grass 



Meadow cat's-tail 



Evergreen wood meadow-grass 

 Rough-stalked meadow-grass . 



Sand-reed 



Yarrow 



Bird's-foot trefoil 



Black medic or nonsuch 



Saintfoin 



Rib-grass 



Common salad-burnet 



Trefoil 



Alsike clover 



Common red clover 



Cow-grass 



White clover 



No. 1. 



No. 2. 



No. 3. 



luch. 



k 



2i 



2 



4 



2 



2i 



2f 



o 



2 



2A 



2i 



24 



3i 



34 



2 



1 



14 



4 



14 

 14 

 14 



4i 

 24 



4 



U 



n 



2 

 2 

 14 



The mference which may be fairly drawn from 

 these results is, that seeds of this class should be 

 laid as near the surface as possible, so that the 

 covering of the soil shall be of the thinnest cha- 

 racter. A slight covering, however, is desirable 

 for the purpose of retaining moisture; for seed 

 placed upon the surface is naturally subject to the 

 drying influence of the air, which, after germination 

 has commenced, may so check the growth as to 

 prove destructive to its existence. In field-culture 

 we cannot rely upon the germination of seeds 

 which are uncovered, because we cannot regulate 

 the supply of moisture ; still we see that the depth 

 of the covering has an important influence on the 

 thickness of the plant, and must shape our pro- 

 ceedings accordingly. This explains the variations 

 in the success attendant upon diflferent modes of 

 preparing for grass seeds. 



As these seeds are usually sown with a corn- 

 crop, the early preparation of the ground is carried 

 on without regard to their special requiremeivts. 

 They are sometimes sown immediately after the 

 corn is in the gi'ound and the land has been well 

 harrowed ; but, unless in the case of a late sowing, 

 this plan is objectionable, because they then sprout 

 and show their tender leaves above the ground too 

 soon, being exposed to injury by the cold nights 

 at the end of April and beginning of May; also 

 because the ground is then in too loose a condition 

 to secure the seed from sinking too deeply into the 



soil. If the soil has been worked to a very fine 

 condition and is then rolled, the seed may be sown 

 without much loss, a cross-rolling being sufficient 

 to cover it when sown. This extra rolling, how- 

 ever, in case of much rain, might be very prejudi- 

 cial to the growth of the seed-corn. As a general 

 rule, it will be far better for the grass-seeds to be 

 sown after the corn is well rooted in the ground ; 

 the soil will then become settled, and there will be 

 less disposition to allow these small seeds to sink 

 between the particles of the soil beyond the proper 

 depth. The benefit of a slight covering in a great 

 measure explains the greater thickness of the 

 clover-plant when sown upon barley-land which 

 has received extra tillage, and has thus been brought 

 to a fine tilth, for the seed thus sown is well placed 

 for immediate growth. 



If the surface is at all crusted over, a very light 

 harrowing should first be given ; after this the seed 

 may be sown and then rolled down. Should the 

 surface be free and slightly rough, so as to crumble 

 readily beneath the pressure of the foot, the seed 

 may be sown without previous working and then 

 rolled in; but in case the surface is judged to be 

 too rough for this treatment, it must be rolled 

 lightly, harrowed if necessary, and again rolled 

 after the seeds are sown. A careful use of the 

 roller is generally the best means for covering the 

 seeds, but it must always be done whilst the ground 

 is dry and works freely. Another great advantage 



