272 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



deeply and then to sow along with some grain, any time 

 between June and the early autumn when the ground is 

 moist. Preparing the land and sowing the seed of this 

 grass must be considered with special reference to the 

 needs of areas, frequently short in rainfall, since it is in 

 these that western rye grass will render the most im- 

 portant service. 



Sowing. Under the conditions where the necessity 

 exists for sowing western rye grass, it can he sown with 

 the best assurance of success somewhat late in May or in 

 June, and on soil prepared by ploughing in the fall and 

 giving successive harrowings in the spring. When thus 

 sown, it is considered preferable to sow without a nurse 

 crop ; and then to mow once or twice to prevent weeds 

 from seeding, leaving the plants cut to mulch the soil. 

 The seed should be sown when the land has been mois- 

 tened by rain. In some instances, pasturing has not 

 been found hurtful. In many places, however, espe- 

 cially where the annual rainfall is reasonably ample, 

 it has succeeded quite well when sown in the spring on 

 fall ploughed land and with a lightly seeded nurse crop 

 as 2 to 4 pecks of oats. In a normal season, the oats may 

 be cut when ripe, but in a dry year they should be cut 

 somewhat high for hay, as soon as fully out in head. 

 When sown early on soils that blow, the grain should be 

 allowed to reach, the height of 2 or 3 inches before sow- 

 ing the rye grass seed ; but when sown on such soils after 

 June first, it will answer to sow at the same time as the 

 nurse crop. It may be sown by hand or with a hand 

 seeder specially made to sow such grass seeds, which 

 is wheeled over the ground when in use and covered 



