16 1 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



Renewing. Since red top is one of the hardiest of 

 grasses, and since, under fair treatment, the sod tends 

 to improve, renewal, in the sense of obtaining a stand 

 and maintaining it, is only necessary when the catch 

 is imperfect, or when it is desired to stimulate the 

 grass by the application of fertilizers. 



Where the stand of the young plants is not sufficiently 

 numerous, it may usually be improved by simply adding 

 more seed. This may be done in the early autumn, in 

 advance of or simultaneously with the coming of the 

 first rains, in the late autumn, too late to admit of the 

 seed sprouting before the arrival of spring, or in the 

 early spring. Whether harrowing is necessary must be 

 determined by the circumstances. If the seed is sown 

 in the early autumn and especially if fresh seed is 

 sown in the chaff, it is usually not greatly important that 

 the harrow shall be used. The thickening of the stand 

 of seed may also be hastened by allowing the plants pres- 

 ent to ripen their seeds and then let the winds strew 

 them over the ground. This method will be found quite 

 effective especially on moist soils. In this way hillsides 

 given to washing with the rains may be clothed after 

 scattering plants have obtained a foothold on the same. 



For renewing in the sense of stimulating growth, no 

 fertilizer is equal to farmyard manure applied as a top 

 dressing, since it acts quickly, its action is prolonged, 

 and in addition, for a considerable period it provides a 

 mulch for the grass which is helpful to it both summer 

 and winter. But commercial fertilizers will also ren- 

 der good service. (See p. 17.) 



In some soils with high adaptation to the growth of 



