36 



The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XIX, No. 1, 



DIFFICULTY OF STARTING SEEDLINGS IN THE ASH. 



More significant, perhaps, than negative observations indi- 

 cating the absence of seedlings, are the results of the attempts 

 that have been made to seed down various ash covered areas. 

 At the Government Experimental farm at Kalsin Bay a number 

 of pasture grasses were planted soon after the ash fell. The 

 seeds came up well, giving an almost perfect stand in nearly 

 every case. Where heavily manured, many of the plots have 

 continued to do well, and some of them have formed a good 

 turf on the ground. 





Photograph by R. F. Griggs 

 A TIMOTHY PLAT THREE YEARS OLD. 



Sowed in the ash soon after the eruption, the seed came up well and most of the 



plants are still alive but have made no growth. Contrast with the 



grass come up from old roots, shown on page 7. 



Where planted in the untreated ash or with little fertilizer, 

 different species have behaved differently. In some, most of 

 the plants were overwhelmed while yet small, but a few individ- 

 uals managed to get a good start and are now strong enough to 

 hold their own against the undermining wind, while in others 

 most of the original plants have persisted, but have made only 

 very slight growth. On the timothy plot, for example, most of 



