354 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



i 



preparation of the land: 1. On average soils aim to 

 have the seed bed fine and smooth at the time of sow- 

 ing the seed. 2. Seek fine pulverization in lands not 

 naturally friable when preparing the seed bed in spring, 

 but be content with pulverization less fine when pre- 

 paring the same for autumn sowing in climates of 

 much rainfall in winter. 3. On soils so light as to lift 

 with the winds, sow on an uneven surface and aim to 

 leave the surface rough. 4. Aim so to prepare the 

 land that it will have sufficient moisture near enough 

 the surface to germinate readily the seed when it is 

 sown. 



Since nearly all grasses start more feebly and grow 

 more slowly at the first than the small cereal grains, 

 it is more important relatively that they shall be sown 

 on clean land, however it may be cleaned. Since tem- 

 porary pastures tend to put humus in the soil and also 

 available fertility, it is not as necessary that the soil 

 shall be well supplied with humus and fertility as 

 when sowing many other crops; the growth of the grass, 

 nevertheless, will usually be proportionate ' to the 

 amount of Hth in the soil. It is not usual to apply 

 fresh farmyard manure in large quantities the same 

 season that lands are laid down to grass, .since the 

 growth of weeds would thereby be encouraged to the 

 detriment of the young grass plants. If, however, 

 these have been applied to some cultivated crop grown, 

 the previous season, the influence is beneficent to the 

 growth of these. The weed seeds in this manure have 

 been destroyed and the residue of fertility from the 

 manure is readily available. On some poor sandy soils, 



