SOWING GRASS WITHOUT GRAIN. 253 



grain is continually taking from the soil, thus robbing the young 

 grass plants from the start. Every farmer knows how spindling, 

 sickly, and how lacking in strength of root and stem, is a grass 

 or clover plant growing in dense masses of grain. When this 

 grain is harvested in June or July, just when the summer's 

 heats are the greatest, the delicate, starved grass plants are 

 certain to perish, unless long continued, cool, and cloudy weather 

 prevent. 



" We are aware that, upon favorable seasons, considerable suc- 

 cess is obtained by seeding the grasses with another crop. But, 

 even during these favorable seasons, a better and more vigorous 

 start will be obtained without the rivalry of vigorous grains; 

 and, upon dry seasons, a failure of the grass is almost certain, 

 when seeded with a grain crop." 



In favor of seeding in autumn without another crop, we may 

 say: the land can be much better fitted for grass in autumn 

 than in early spring. If weeds start in autumn frosts will kill 

 them, while if the grass is sown in spring the weeds keep grow- 

 ing all summer. They may be checked, however, by mowing 

 when the grasses are a few inches high. If there are vacant 

 places they can be reseeded in spring. The first hay crop will 

 be much better. Whatever plan is pursued, a failure or partial 

 failure may sometimes occur. 



All the experiments of the writer indicate that in the North- 

 ern States young grasses thrive better when they have the full 

 benefit of all the sun and rain. The statement sometimes made, 

 that young grasses and clovers need the shade and protection of 

 some larger plants has no proof to sustain it. Numerous cor- 

 respondents, without exception, in case they have tried both 

 methods, speak of getting a much better catch of grass when the 

 seed is sown without another crop. Killebrew says that in 

 former years the farmers of Tennessee almost universally sowed 

 grass seeds in the spring of the year on crops of grain, but since 



