292 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



that a roller may easily be too heavy, especially in a moist 

 season; that if the earth is moist the roller should not be 

 used until it has dried somewhat, so that no packing or 

 crusting will occur, and that it is often advantageous 

 to roll the new seeding weeks or even months after sow- 

 ing, should the land get dry and there be danger that 

 the loose seedbed may dry out before the rootlets of 

 the small grasses and clovers can reach permanent mois- 

 ture below. I have often taken out a very heavy roller 

 in midsummer and pressed down hard the young 

 meadow, with excellent results. For such use a roller 

 of concrete is very useful ; it may be made to weigh a 

 ton or more, and for use in dry weather the heavier it 

 is, within reason, the better. The heavy roller is useful 

 also as a pusher-in of small stones and sticks that might 

 hurt the mower. One should own two rollers ; one may 

 be light for use in the spring and the other to use on 

 old meadows or pastures much heavier. 



Corrugated Rollers. Rollers are made with corru- 

 gations having a rather sharp V-shaped edge. These 

 are admirable for new seedings. The seeds pressed in 

 by use of this rojler are sure to be in part in moist, fit 

 soil and the resultant stand is apt to be very good. This 

 roller is not so well adapted to use on old-established 

 meadows unless one is desirous of pushing in some fresh 

 seed. 



After-Care of Young Grasses and Clovers. And 

 when one has a stand, what? Consider that the young 

 things are infants, and be gentle. If the land must be 

 grazed take out the animals in wet weather. It takes 

 time to establish a tough sod that will bear up the ani- 



