SEEDING GRASSES 299 



will it do well on sandy land. Since the root system is shal- 

 low, it is not adapted to dry sections nor to dry locations. It 

 grows better under shade than many of the other grasses, 

 and is particularly suited to open woodland pastures. 



Blue grass pastures may be improved by spreading barn- 

 yard manure over them in the fall or early winter. Nitrogen 

 may be applied in the spring after the grass has started to 

 grow, and fall and spring dressings of phosphates and potash 

 are beneficial. 



384:. Seeding. The germination of the seed is frequently 

 low, so that heavy seeding is necessary. Seed should not 

 be purchased until a germination test has been made. When 

 the grass is sown alone for immediate results, as in the case 

 of lawns, as much as 40 pounds may be sown to the acre. If 

 sown in a mixture with other grasses, some of which will 

 make a quick growth which in the course of a few years will 

 be largely replaced bj^ blue grass, from 10 to 12 pounds will 

 be sufficient. On account of its slowness in occupying the 

 land and making adequate returns, Kentucky blue grass is 

 seldom sown alone for pasture. It is either sown in a mix- 

 ture or is not sown at all, the natural growth of the plant 

 being depended on to occupy the land after it has been pas- 

 tured for a few years. Even when seeded, it does not make 

 much of a showing for three or four years and then con- 

 tinues to improve for several years thereafter. Best re- 

 sults are obtained from sowing late in the fall or early in the 

 spring, either with or without a nurse crop. 



385. Pasturing. Kentucky blue grass begins to grow 

 early in the spring and continues its growth till late in the 

 fall, but it does not grow well in hot, diy weather. For this 

 reason, it needs to be supplemented to some extent during 

 July and August. It is well to provide some extra feed 

 for stock during these months, in the way of silage or an 

 annual pasture or soiUng crop. Blue grass is one of our most 

 nutritious and palatable pasture grasses. Cattle prefer it 



