254 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



be obtained from spring sown seed the same season, but 

 seed sown in the autumn should produce two cuttings 

 of hay the following year. The seed may be sown by 

 hand and covered with the harrow or it may be put in 

 with the drill. It should not be buried deeply. It is not 

 customary to sow the seed in combination with other 

 grasses, but it may be sown with a nurse crop. It is 

 usually recommended to sow one bushel of seed per 

 acre. Some again consider a peck to half a bushel suffi- 

 cient. But the amount of seed that may properly be 

 used is much influenced by the condition of the land. 

 Heavy seeding is recommended in the spring that the 

 grass may hold its own against weeds. When the land 

 has been well prepared much less seed will suffice than 

 when the opposite is true. When the land is weedy the 

 seed is sometimes sown in rows far enough apart to ad- 

 mit of horse cultivation, with a view to encourage 

 growth in the plants. 



When propagated from cuttings, roots are obtained 

 and planted in shallow furrows made with the plough. 

 They are covered with the harrow. The roots may be 

 made with the spade or corn knife, but most rapidly if 

 shaken free from dirt by running them through ^ cut- 

 ting box. Another method is to plant the roots between 

 the hills of corn, or in furrows made between the corn 

 rows when the corn crop is being made ready to lay by 

 for the season. In yet other instances the plants are 

 put in one way between the hills of corn, the cultivator 

 being used but one way in cultivating the corn, and so 

 as not to disturb the Johnson grass. 



Pasturing. While this grass is much relished by 



