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formly covered, and in pastures there will be, from the different flow- 

 ering time of the different species, a succession and continuation of a 

 supply of tender foliage. 



Some species of grass are adapted to clay lands, some to sandy soils, 

 some to loam, some to dry upland, and some to low land j but even for 

 land of a uniform quality it is believed that a mixture of five or six suit- 

 able varieties will yield a larger crop than one alone. The mixture of 

 several varieties is perhaps most valuable in land that is designated for 

 pasturage, as then they reach maturity at different times and furnish 

 a succession of good feed, and also cover more completely and uniformly 

 the ground. But no general mixture of grass seed can be adapted to all 

 situations and soils. Every farmer should study carefully the nature 

 of his grounds, its altitude, drainage and composition, and then adapt 

 his grasses to the circumstances. 



Generally there are few cases where there will be any advantage in 

 employing more than five or six well-selected varieties for cultivation 

 in one field. For a permanent pasture under most circumstances the 

 following kinds in proper proportions would make a good mixture, viz : 

 June grass (blue grass), fox-tail (Alopecurus pratensis), redtop (bent 

 grass), Timothy, tall fescue, and perennial rye grass. This will give 

 a succession as to earliness of growth and flowering. 



But in some localities and for some soils, as in Kentucky for instance, 

 the farmer who has a good pasture of blue grass will not think it capa- 

 ble of much improvement. As we speak of the individual kinds of 

 grasses and their adaptation to different soils, the farmer will be able 

 to judge how far they will suit his circumstances. 



Mixed Grasses for Pasturage. For pasturage, however, we recommend a vari- 

 ety of grasses and thick seeding. Stock like variety and thrive better on it. Each 

 variety has its season of greatest excellence, and thus the best pasturage can be kept 

 up throughout the year. The common red clover should be sown with the grasses 

 for all pastures. It is a rank grower and resists drought admirably. We are glad 

 morft attention is being paid to pasturage. Improved farming can not be carried on 

 without it, and in nothing are the majority of our farmers more neglectful than in 

 seeding more of their farms to good pastures.* 



A Kentucky farmer gives the following mixture where an immediate 

 pasture is wanted : 



Blue grass pounds.. 8 



Orchard grass do.... 4 



Timothy do 4 



Red clover do 6 



To this may be added Italian rye grass, 4 pounds, and the same 

 amount of fescue grass if preferred, but the other is ordinarily sufficient. 

 This quantity is a heavy seeding for one acre. The blue grass will 

 not be seen much at first, but by the time the clover dies out it will 

 have taken hold of the entire surface. 



* Colman's Rural World. 



