GRASSES. 197 



The quantity of seed that it has been found neces- 

 sary in practice to sow is very much more than is 

 theoretically necessary for a perfect stand. In field 

 culture only a small portion of the seeds sown pro- 

 duce mature plants. 



This may be illustrated by giving the number of 

 seeds per square foot where a given number of 

 pounds are sown per acre. Many more might be 

 given but the following list will suffice : 



Lbs. seed No. seeds 

 Name. sown per per sq. 



acre. foot. 



Timothy 15 490 



Red top 30 2850 



Orchard grass 35 370 



Kentucky blue grass 40 2000 



Meadow foxtail 40 915 



Fall meadow oat grass 40 140 



Meadow fescue 30 190 



Sheep's fescue 30 540 



Sweet vernal grass 30 440 



Perennial rye grass 60 335 



Italian rye grass 60 380 



Medium red clover 10 85 



Mammoth red clover 10 75 



Alsike clover 10 l50 



White clover 10 200 



Alfalfa 10 55 



The rate of seeding timothy varies from nine to 

 fifteen pounds per acre, thus making from 300 to 500 

 seeds to the square foot. The rate of seeding clover 

 may vary from six to ten pounds, making from 50 to 

 85 seeds per square foot. This quantity has not been 

 found too much in practice. 



This of course, shows the crudeness of the present 

 method of seeding. The greater delicacy of the 

 smaller seeds is also well illustrated. This is, in part, 



