388 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



When sown by hand, the plan of sowing half the seed 

 when first going over the land and then crossing it 

 when sowing the other half is quite certain to secure 

 a more even distribution of seeds that differ in weight 

 than by sowing them all at one cast. When sown with 

 a hand seeder, now in use, which is wheeled over the 

 ground, a more even distribution of the seed will be 

 secured. It may be necessary, in some instances, to s^w 

 the coarser seeds together and then to go over the land 

 a second time sowing those that are finer. This may 

 be necessary because the small and large seeds are not 

 likely to feed out evenly, when sown all at once; the 

 opportunity is thus also furnished for running the har- 

 row over the land after the first distribution of seed 

 has been made in order to cover the seeds more deeply. 

 In all or nearly all instances, some covering with the 

 harrow is necessary ; whether the roller- should follow 

 will depend upon soil and climatic conditions. There 

 may be instances in which the seeds may be sown with 

 the grain drill as when only one or two varieties are 

 sown which require a fairly deep covering. 



Usually these grasses are not sown with a nurse crop. 

 Whether a crop shall be obtained from the ground, 

 the season that grasses are sown, is not greatly im- 

 portant relatively ; the great matter is to secure a good, 

 vigorous and uniform stand of the grasses. When 

 not sown with a nurse crop, the mower should be run 

 over the ground as often as necessary to prevent the 

 weeds and stronger plants from producing undue shade. 

 Close attention should be given to the matter and it 

 should be done frequently enough to make it unnec- 



