250 SOWING GRASS WITHOUT GRAIN. 



but now, in a rotation system of crops, I sow in the spring, and 

 meet with good success ; and if, in any degree, I have a failure, 

 I can sow again on all thin spots after the grain is off, and still 

 again in the spring when the frost is working the ground, or in 

 the fall, after the spring sowing, on the fall frosts after it is too 

 late for germinatien. These night frosts and day thawings open 

 and close the ground and let the seed in well, and, on the whole, 

 fall is a good time to sow for several reasons, when one is deter- 

 mined to sow grass seed alone, or when one is sowing over dead 

 spots for new grass. It is an important matter to inspect all 

 fields or sections that need re-seeding. Indeed, an annual seed- 

 ing of fields is nature's way, and is often profitable." 



Sowing Grass without Grain. — At the author's request, the 

 following was prepared by A. W. Cheever, of Sheldonvillc, Mass. : 



" Experiments repeated time and again^ have convinced me, 

 here in east Massachusetts, where grain crops, compared with 

 hay, have come to take a secondary place in the estimation of 

 most farmers, grass sown alone is almost invariably worth more 

 the first year than the grain and straw together would be if grain 

 were sown with the grass, and the former made the leading crop. 



" This is especially true where the land is particularly adapted 

 to the production of hay. For the past fifteen years I have sown 

 nearly all my grass seed alone, and in no single instance have I 

 been sorry I did not sow grain with it to afford protection. When 

 seeding with grass alone, I have generally cut two crops the first 

 year. The first crop should be cut rather early, even if not fully 

 grown. This kills or checks many of the annual weeds. 



" I have often sowed the seed in spring, but this is not nature's 

 time for sowing the grasses. Early autumn is undoubtedly the 

 best time in the whole year for sowing most grasses. If sown 

 then the annuals will find .themselves laboring under a disadvan- 

 tage and will soon give up the race. 



" Grass sown in early fall will produce as full a crop the fol- 



