WHAT HAS BEEN SOWN IN THE UNITED STATES. 205 



As late as 1884, in the Northern States, among those who sow 

 seeds on their lands intended for meadows, very few sow any 

 other seeds than Timothy and clover. If left to themselves after 

 a few years several others come in one way and another and in- 

 crease the variety and quality of old meadows and pastures. 



It is not quite as true in 1885, as it was when Gould wrote it 

 in 1869, that "This Babel-like confusion of opinions demon- 

 strates clearly enough that we have no real knowledge on this 

 all-important subject, and that we rely only upon capricious 

 guesses for the settlement of the problem." 



Circulars or letters of inquiry in reference to the grasses for 

 pastures or meadows seldom bring valuable or trustworthy in- 

 formation. 



From the above it will be seen that the list of grasses now gen- 

 erally sown in any State can be counted on the fingers of one 

 hand, while there are doubtless twenty or thirty which ought to 

 find extensive sale for the various uses and the varied soils and 

 climates of any large State. The list is growing, slowly growing 

 larger. 



We wish to impress our readers with the very important fact 

 that little is definitely known regarding the grasses found in our 

 pastures, and still less is known in reference to those best 

 adapted to cultivation. As Gould says: " We must fairly grap- 

 ple with the undoubted fact that the science of grass culture is 

 yet in the early dawn of its infancy." 



The Englishman selects twenty or more ; not including some 

 which are not true grasses. He selects some kinds for thin soil 

 or upland pastures, others for stiff clays, others for rich, deep 

 loams, others for meadows which are subject to periodic floods 

 along the banks of rhers, and still others for irrigated meadows 

 in which the water can be entirely controlled. 



There must always be a difference of opinion as to the merits of 

 grasses on account of the various soils, climates, seasons and uses. 



