HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



245 



From the above facts it will be evident, that the smaller the 

 number of different species of grasses that are combined together 

 in a pasture, the greater is the deficiency of plants on any given 

 space of the land. This is an important fact to be considered, in 

 coming to a just conclusion respecting the proper quantity of 

 grass seeds which should be sown on a given space of ground, so 

 as to furnish the surface of it at once with the just sufficiency of 

 plants. When an excess of grass seeds is sown, the seeds, in 

 general, all vegetate, but the plants make little, if any progress, 

 until, from the want of nourishment to the roots, and the confined 

 space for the growth of the foliage, a certain number decay, and 

 give the requisite room to the proper number of plants ; and that 

 will be according as there are a greater or less variety of different 

 species of grasses combined in the sward. 



If we now ascertain the number of grass seeds contained in a 

 given measure or weight of such seed, and compare these with the 

 number of square feet or inches on the surface of an acre of 

 ground, the results will shew the degree of closeness in which the 

 plants of grasses will stand, from the use of any given measure or 

 weight of seed. 



If the seeds of the above grasses and plants be mixed in the 

 diflPerent proportions before stated, one bushel of such mixture of 



* Only one seed in four, at the most, according to my experience, can be depended on. 



