658 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



To attain both objects it will be necessary to make the grass crop one in 

 rotation. In making it a rotation crop, the kinds of grass seed to be sown 

 is very limited. We can only use those kinds that will occupy the land 

 the first year and produce a paying crop the second. And any grass that 

 will take a number of years to be established must be rejected. We only 

 know of two kinds that will fill the requirements and they are the clovers 

 and timothy. We recommend in nearly every case the combining of the 

 two grasses as much greater crop can be produced by their union than can 

 be raised by sowing them separate. And we think the soil can be built 

 up more rapidly by occupying every available space with rootlets which 

 will be produced in greater numbers by the two grasses combined than by 

 sowing them separate. The raising of corn enables us to have one of the 

 most perfect seed beds for the sowing of grass seed. The corn field that 

 has been thoroughly plowed and cultivated the previous years is sufficiently 

 mellow, not lumpy and without open spaces to dry out as is the case with 

 newly-plowed fields. Land in this condition will retain moisture with the 

 elements they require for their growth. The dry stalks left on the ground 

 from the previous year's crop will also be a benefit to the newly-sown seed. 

 The stalks will not act as a mulch but will protect the tender grass shoots 

 from the damage caused by strong, sweeping winds. The time and manner 

 of sowing the seed is very important, and we think to get the best results 

 clover and timothy should be sown at different times and covered at differ- 

 ent depths. Our plan would be to sow the clover some time in March and 

 let it lay until the ground thaws out. As early as possible after thawing 

 we would sow the nurse crop, disking or cultivating it in, which would 

 al'-o coyer the clover to a sufficient depth. One would then sow the tim- 

 othy and complete the work by covering with the harrow. The reason 

 for advocating this method is because if both kinds of seed are sown at the 

 same time they will both be covered to the same depth. As clover requires 

 a greater depth than timothy to properly germinate, it follows that if we 

 cultivate the clover to the proper depth, it will place the timothy too deep, 

 thereby weakening or destroying the life of the seed. We do not think it 

 is practical to sow grass seed without a nurse crop, as it would entail 

 a loss of the use of the land for one year. Sometimes the young grass is 

 smothered or dried up by its removal but perhaps all we can do in this 

 matter is to take all possible precaution in selecting the kinds of grain 

 sown. Barley or the early varieties of oats seem to be the best for this 

 purpose. It seems that the earlier the nurse crop can be removed the less 

 danger of the young grass being killed by the fierce heat of summer. Re- 

 cently flax has been advocated as a nurse crop in some quarters but in this 

 country it has so many disadvantages it seems that it is not worth con- 

 sidering in this relation. 



It is a mistaken idea that we can sow grass seed in any manner and 

 get the best results. It is the most difficult crop to get an even distribu- 

 tion, and no crop will show the way the work is done more plainly. To 

 sow the seed properly it must be clean, and the seeder used should have the 

 most perfect mechanical apparatus. Perhaps no tool on the farm Is re- 

 quired to work with greater nicety. If we were to give one reason above 



