QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 59 



continued overflow. Orchard grass, on the other hand, a good, all- 

 around sort, will grow on dry, sandy loam ; fairly well on poor clay and 

 better on rich bottoms, so it be not overflowed, and it even endures the 

 shade of trees. 



344. Q. On what soil does Blue grass do best ? Blue Grass. 

 A. Blue grass doing best on limestone soils is not a good hay producer, 



as it is a light cropper, difiicult to cut and harder to cure, but it is emi- 

 nently a pasturage and lawn grass. It is an easy grower, flourishing for 

 a limited time on gravels, bottoms and clays, while on limestone soils 

 grazing fields have been known to remain in perfection for sixty years. 

 It will not stand severe droughts, but resists any amount of frost, while 

 continued pasturage only makes it better. 



345. Q. What are the best grasses for pasturage ? Pasturage 

 A. Upon the length of time which it is contemplated to allow the pas- ''**^*** 



turage to stand depends, to a large extent, the varieties of grass seeds to 

 mix, as for example, Timothy, Italian Rye grass, Cocksfoot, White and 

 Alsike clover, are all very quick to develop and suitable for a two or 

 three years' shift, while for a longer term should be added Blue grass. 

 Red Top, Foxtail, Tall Fescue, Perennial Rye, Lucerne and Red clover. 



346. Q. How many grass seeds are in a pound ? Seeds to the 

 A. One who sets himself to estimate the number of seeds in a pound *"^ ' 



will soon come to a realization of the necessity for a perfect seed bed, that 

 the small seeds be not lost in crevices or under clods, for he will find the 

 seeds to number in a pound of Tall Fescue 250,000, Red clover 280,000, 

 Orchard grass 600,000, Timothy 1,250,000, Blue grass 2,375,000, Rough 

 Meadow 3,000,000 and Red Top 8,000,000. Can it be expected that over 

 10 per cent, of the seeds ever make a plant, considering the rough tillage 

 and careless sowing of the ordinary farmer ? 



347. Q. Why do you advise the sowing of so much grass seed to the Grass 



acre ? Seeding. 



A. Thin seeding of grass is a most serious mistake, as a poor stand of 

 grass only leaves room for weeds to occupy the space. Consequently we 

 advise a very liberal application of seed, for under the best conditions, as 

 respects preparation of land, distribution of seed and covering, a large 

 portion of the seed will get too deeply covered over to vegetate. 



348. Q. How deep should grass seed be covered ? Depth of 

 A. Not more than one farmer in a hundred by his field practice shows Cohering. 



any indication that he realizes the necessity of shallow covering of grass 

 seeds, for they generally put on a harrow and cover to a depth of one to 

 two and a half inches, delicate seeds not one-thirtieth of an inch in diame- 

 ter. Certainly the greater part never shows a green blade, for farmers 

 seldom stop to consider the delicate nature of the seeds they commit to 

 rough, cloddy earth. 



349. Q. Instruct me what mixture of grasses will do best in my section ? 

 A. AH prescriptions for grass seed mixtures are little more than gener- 

 alities, for no one can compile a table or seriesof tables showing thevarie- 



