88 PASTURE PLANTS AND PASTURES OF N.Z. 



In arable areas grass seed is usually sown from special 

 grass seed sowers. The box containing the seed is frequently 

 mounted on a special machine in which case the seed falls 

 between boards that hang to within a few inches of the 

 ground. Between the boards are numberless little pegs so 

 that the seed becomes thoroughly distributed in its passage 

 downward, and leaves the boards so close to the surface of 

 the land that it has little chance of being scattered irregularly 

 by the wind. These machines are drawn by one horse and 

 sow a width of about 15 feet at a stroke. Perhaps more 

 frequently the grass seed box is made to fit on to a grain drill 

 or even a roller, and then the seed has to fall some distance 

 through the air before it reaches the land and is often blown 

 about by the wind. A grain drill itself with the tubes lead- 

 ing to the coulters detached, and the coulters hooked up, 

 can be used with fairly satisfactory results. Of course in all 

 these methods the width sown at a stroke is governed by 

 the width of the implement to which the seed box is attached. 



The question of the kind of surface to have on the land 

 before and after the sowing of the seed is one that leads to 

 much argument. Whether the soil should be loose or rolled 

 before the seed is sown, or loose or rolled after the seed is sown 

 are both matters that are open to question. Certain facts are 

 clear. (1) Grass seed sown by the plants themselves are not 

 covered at all, but merely lie on the surface, or are covered at 

 most by a few fallen leaves. Grass seeds then are suited for 

 germination with the slightest covering, and that they will do 

 this is proved by the success of surface sowing. (2) As a 

 corollary to this it may be taken for granted that grass seed 

 sown deep will not germinate, or at least will not produce 

 plants. In a trial in this matter Timothy seed was sown 

 on the surface, and at depths of quarter of an inch, one 

 inch, and two inches. The rows on the surface and at 

 quarter of an inch grew perfectly, while the rows sown 



