GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 19 



snows, as, when warm rains hasten the departure of 

 these. At other times they are profitably sown quite 

 as early or nearly so^ on gTound in a honeycombed con- 

 dition. But where the conditions are such that nature 

 is not likely to provide a sufficient covering for the seeds 

 after they have been sown, the sowing should be deferred 

 until the ground can be covered with the harrow. 



The late sowing of grasses in the spring may succeed 

 in climates which have considerable rainfall in the sum- 

 mer^ but it will not be successful in those opposite in 

 character. The most hazardous seasons in which grasses 

 can be sown are the late spring and the early summer. 



Methods of Sowiiig. — Grasses are usually sown by 

 hand, by machines run by hand, or by the seed drill. 

 Which of these methods of sowing will be preferable will 

 depend upon circumstances. Hand sowing can be done 

 under some conditions in which neither the machines 

 run by hand nor those run by horses can be used, and 

 because of this, the necessity for more or less of hand 

 sowing will never cease to exist. 



Sowing by hand is usually a necessity when the seed is 

 sown while the snow is yet on the ground, or the ground 

 is in such a condition that hand machines may not be 

 used on it. It may also be practiced when sowing cannot 

 be done by the machines referred to from want of adap- 

 tation in these for sowing certain of the larger kinds of 

 seeds. The sowing of gTasses by hand is the most diffi- 

 cult kind of hand sowing. To do it well usually re- 

 quires not a little practice, backed up by dexterity in 

 acquiring a proper grip of the seed between the thumb 

 and two adjacent lingers and an easy and correct swing 



