230 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



be better to defer it still later, even until the middle of November, as in that case the seed 

 will not germinate so as to be injured by the severe winter cold, and will start earlier in the 

 spring than it possibly could by an early spring sowing. 



Clover and orchard grass may be considered exceptions to this rule generally, the best 

 time for sowing these seeds being usually early in the spring. 



Should the soil in August be very dry, it is better to wait till early September before 

 sowing, but when the soil is favorable at the middle of August, that is the better time, as 

 before stated. What we have said relative to August as the proper time for sowing, applies 

 more particularly to the North In the extreme South, a month later would be a more 

 desirable time. There can be no definite rule given relative to the precise time of seeding 

 down grass land, since it will depend upon various considerations, such as the latitude, the 

 season, nature of soil, etc. The rule we have given will be the best general rule, conditions 

 being favorable. Sometimes it will be more convenient for a farmer to sow in the spring; 

 ^n such a case, the soil should be very rich, moist, and mellow: or, if not particularly rich, it 

 should have a generous supply of manure, that the seed may have a quick start, and luxu 

 riant growth ; otherwise, the weeds will be liable to choke it, and it will not be sufficiently 

 advanced to withstand the effect of the drouth in summer ; the object being to enable it to 

 obtain a strong hold upon life, and become well established in the soil before the hot, dry sea 

 son sets in. If sown when the ground is very dry, the seed will be likely to be burned, or 

 dried up and lost; for this reason the sowing should be delayed until the soil, which had pre 

 viously been prepared, was well moistened by the early fall rains. 



Selection of Seed. It is of the utmost importance in the production of the grass 

 crop, that not only the suitable varieties of seed should be selected, but that the seed should 

 be fresh. Old seed that has been left over from year to year may be, and doubtless is, fre 

 quently mixed with the new, and put upon the market. This mixture is not easily detected, 

 but the results will usually be seen in the failure in germination of the old seed. There is a 

 great difference in the different varieties of plants with respect to the length of time the seeds 

 will retain their vitality, some retaining it for several years, others only one or two years. 

 The seeds of most of the grasses have bean found to be of but very little value when they 

 have been kept two or three years, hence the importance of procuring new, fresh seeds, and 

 guarding against any mixture of the old and worthless with the new, as carefully as possible. 



It is easy to tell whether the germmative power of grass or any other seed still remains, 

 by the following simple method; and, if the buyer should be willing to try it, he might pur- 

 chase only a small quantity at first, and afterwards obtain his full supply with more confi 

 dence, if the trial showed it to be good. Take two pieces of thick cloth, moisten them with 

 water, and place them one upon the other in the bottom of a saucer. Place any number of 

 seeds which it is desired to try, upon the cloth, spreading thin, so as not to allow them to 

 cover or touch each other. Cover them over with a third piece of cloth similar to the others 

 and moistened in the same manner. Then place the saucer in a moderately warm place. 

 Sufficient water must be turned on from time to time to keep the three thicknesses of cloth 

 moist, but great care must be taken not to use too much water, as this would destroy the seed. 

 There should be only enough to moisten the cloths, and not enough to allow any to stand in 

 the saucer. Danger from this source may be avoided in a great measure, however, by tip 

 ping up the saucer so as to permit any superfluous water in it to drain off. The cloth 

 used for covering may be gently raised each day to watch the progress of the swelling or 

 the moulding of the seeds. The good seed will be found to swell gradually, while the old or 

 poor seed, which has lost its germinating power, will become mouldy in a very few days. In this 

 way, also, any one can judge whether old seed is mixed with new. The latter will germinate 

 much more quickly than the former. He can judge, besides, of the quantity which he must 

 sow, since he can tell whether a half, or three-fourths, or the whole will be likely to germi 



