248 SEEDING TO GRASS. 



ness and richness of the surface soil. A peck of seed will give a 

 better growth on a fine, fertile surface, than a bushel on a hard 

 crust or among clods. 



" A very common cause of failure is sowing clover seed in the 

 spring, on a heavy soil, with winter wheat, where the crust has 

 not been broken since the previous September. Harrowing the 

 surface with a light harrow will make a much better seed bed. 

 But if Timothy seed has been sown in autumn a coarse harrow 

 may tear it up. 



" The objection to sowing the grass alone is that we are com- 

 pelled to plow and prepare the ground for a single crop, while 

 in seeding with grain we obtain both grain and grass at one 

 operation, and with economy of labor. Farmers will therefore 

 commonly prefer seeding with grain, except in certain cases 

 where obtaining an early crop of grass is a paramount object. 

 By seeding with winter grain, if a light top dressing of fine 

 manure was applied in autumn to prevent a hard crust, the seed 

 may be sown as early in spring as may be desired, without wait- 

 ing for any preparation of the soil, and Timothy may be sown 

 the previous autumn. Or if the soil is likely to settle and 

 become hard, both Timothy and clover may be sown together in 

 spring, after or before the surface is brushed with a light harrow 

 which will not injure the grain. Seeding with spring grain, if 

 properly performed, has much to recommend it. It always fur- 

 nishes a freshly moved soil as a bed for the seed. But caution 

 should be used not to cover the grass seed too deep, nor to sow a 

 thick and shading crop of the grain. 



" The best winter grain with which to sow clover seed is rye. 

 It shades the young crop less, and if the work is properly done 

 it rarely fails of entire success. On the other hand, the seeding 

 rarely succeeds well with a crop of oats, and nearly the only 

 chance for success is in sowing the oats thinly, or not to exceed 



