KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS. 91 



lands where blue grass is sown in the autumn, it may 

 in some instances be advisable to plough the land, as 

 when it is very foul with weeds. In other instances, 

 disking may suffice, as when the surface is clean but 

 unduly firm. And in yet other instances no prepara- 

 tion may be necessary, as when the surface is clean, soft 

 and moist. 



When the seed is sown on clay soils in the autumn, a 

 pulverization of soil less fine will answer than if sown 

 on the same in the spring, especially when these are 

 exposed to alternations of freezing and thawing during 

 the winter, and to the sweep of cold winds. But when 

 sown on these in the spring also, pulverization too fine 

 would be possible, especially in climates where occa- 

 sionally downpours of rain occur, as these would encrust 

 clay surfaces when fine beyond a certain degree. 



When the seed is sown in the spring, fine pulveriza- 

 tion is more necessary than in the autumn, and for 

 reasons that will be apparent from what has been said 

 above. But, happily the degree of the pulverization 

 that is best suited to the nurse crop will also be best 

 suited to the blue grass sown with it. That it is so is 

 fortunate, since, unless when sown for permanent pas- 

 ture, it is more common to sow blue grass with a nurse 

 crop, the reasons for which are given later. (See page 

 94.) 



It is not usual to fertilize land on which blue grass 

 is to be sown with a view specially to promote the growth 

 of the blue grass. Since it is able to get and to main- 

 tain a hold on nearly all kinds of soil without such aid, 

 fertilizers are usually reserved for crops which have 



