156 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



even when grazing is wanted tlms soon it ought to be 

 sown in the autumn and on clean land. This method 

 will also succeed in the north under conditions favora- 

 ble to autumn growth, but, since it is seldom sown in the 

 north except in conjunction with other grasses, it is 

 more common to sow it in the spring. When sown in 

 the spring, early sowing is preferable, especially on up- 

 lands. On marshy lands, considerably saturated with 

 water, and on which it is desired to add red top to the 

 grasses that may be already growing there, it is well to 

 sow when the frost begins to leave the surface of the 

 bare ground. 



The seed is usually sown by hand. Under some con- 

 ditions it may be sown mixed with the grain, but, on 

 many soils, this method of sowing would bury the seed 

 too deeply. By mixing the seed with certain sub- 

 stances, as for instance earth, salt, or wheat bran, it 

 could be sown with the grain drill, but it is usually 

 sown in the chaff. In order to secure a more even dis- 

 tribution of the seed, some growers scatter half the seed 

 to be sown by going first in one direction and then sowing 

 the balance by going again over the land crosswise. 



When wanted for meadow, the seed is frequently sown 

 alone without a nurse crop., and, as previously intimated 

 in the autumn. When sown in the chaff, it is almost 

 invariably sown in the autumn, and in no other way 

 can a stand be so. certainly secured. The seed is then 

 fresh, its germinating power is at -the best, and the 

 chaff scale aids in keeping the seed in that damp con- 

 dition which is favorable to quick and sure germination. 

 But it may also be sown in the autumn, along with a 



