No. 4.] GRASSES AND FORAGE CROPS. 193 



Again, if the grain crop happens to lodge in places, the 

 grass is almost sure to be killed on such spots. Within the 

 past few years many successful farmers in Connecticut have 

 adopted the practice of seeding their grass lands in the lat- 

 ter part of July or the tirst part of August, and almost 

 invariably good results have been obtained. In case the 

 Beason is dry, the seed should be covered more deeply than 

 usual, and the first rains will be almost sure to cause it to 

 germinate. By seeding not later than the middle of Au- 

 gust, the crop, having full use of the soil, becomes well 

 established before cold weather, and the amount of herbage 

 is sufficient to protect the roots from the frosts of winter. 



It is a common mistake, in seeding grass lands, to put 

 too many kinds together. This seems to be done with the 

 thought that, if one or more kinds fail, others will grow, 

 and thus the land will be occupied. It is not uncommon to 

 find grass mixtures advertised which contain species vary- 

 ing in time of blossoming from early in June to near the mid- 

 die of July. In attempting to grow mixtures of this kind 

 some varieties are sure to be harvested when in a tough, 

 woody condition. At the same time, it is wise to grow a 

 sufficient variety of grasses on different fields so as not to 

 crowd the haying season into a short period of time. Of 

 the man}- valuable varieties from which selections can be 

 made, it is possible to prepare mixtures of kinds that will 

 bloom Avithin a short period of each other. Such grasses 

 as Kentucky blue-grass, orchard grass and tall meadow oat 

 grass all come into bloom between June 5 and 15, and these 

 grasses will make a good mixture for early harvest. The 

 tall meadow fescue and English rye grass may be classed as 

 medium early grasses, being in the best condition for har- 

 vest between June 20 and 30 ; while timothy and the two 

 varieties of red-top, the common red-top and the Rhode 

 Island bent, may be classed as late grasses. The time 

 when the crop will be ready to harvest will also depend 

 considerably on the season and the kind of soil. On moist, 

 cold soils all grasses will be later in coming into bloom 

 than the same varieties would on warm soils. There are 

 no grasses that thrive better on moist, cold lands than the 

 two varieties of red-top, and on such soils these can be 



