562 AGRICULTURE. 



tufe of five or six suitable varieties will yield a larger crop than 

 one alone. The mixture of several varieties is perhaps most 

 valuable in land that is designated for pasturage, as then they 

 reach maturity at different times and furnish a succession of 

 good feed, and also cover more completely and uniformly the 

 ground. But no general mixture of grass seed can be adapted 

 to all situations and soils. Every farmer should study carefully 

 the nature of his ground, its altitude, drainage, and composition, 

 and then adapt his grasses to the circumstances. 



Generally there are few cases where there will be any advan- 

 tage in employing more than five or six well-selected varieties 

 for cultivation in one field. For a permanent pasture, under 

 most circumstances, the following kinds, in proper proportions, 

 would make a good mixture ; viz. : June-grass (blue-grass), fox- 

 tail (Alopecurus pratensis), redtop (bent-grass), timothy, tall 

 fescue, and perennial rye-grass. This will give a succession as 

 to earliness of growth and flowering. 



But in some localities and for some soils, as in Kentucky, for 

 instance, the farmer who has a good pasture of blue-grass will 

 not think it capable of much improvement. As we speak of 

 the individual kinds of grasses and their adaptation to different 

 soils, the farmer will be able to judge how far they will suit his 

 circumstances. 



Mixed Grasses for Pasturage. For pasturage, however, we 

 recommend a variety of grasses and thick seeding. Stock like 

 variety and thrive better on it. Each variety has its season of 

 greatest excellence, and thus the best pasturage can be kept up 

 throughout the year. The common red clover should be sown 

 with the grasses for all pastures. It is a rank grower and resists 

 drought admirably. We are glad more attention is being paid 

 to pasturage. Improved farming cannot be carried on without 

 it, and in nothing are the majority of our farmers more neglect- 

 ful than in seeding more of their farms to good pastures. 



A Kentucky farmer gives the following mixture, where an 

 immediate 'pasture is wanted : 



Blue-grass 8 pounds. 



Orchard-grass - 4 " 



Timothy 4 " 



Red clover 6 " 



