AMOUNT OF SEED TO SOW 327 



young grass and clover are usually killed by harvest time when sown 

 with a grain crop. 



The principal reason why nurse crops are used is because grass 

 and clover sown alone will yield only a small crop the first year, 

 and would mean a partial loss of the land for one season. After 

 harvest the grass and clover usually recover sufficiently to make a full 

 crop the next year. In the case of land infested by weeds it is 

 claimed,, with some reason, that a thin seeding of grain will suppress 

 the weeds and will do less harm than full competition with the weeds. 



Barley and winter wheat are considered better nurse crops than 

 oats, as they shade the ground less. 



Sowing Grass Crops Alone. West of the Missouri River, where 

 summers are usually both hot and dry, it is getting more common 

 to sow grass, clover, and alfalfa alone, whether sown in the fall or 

 spring. 



In the southern States sowing alone is best if spring seeding is 

 practised, but the winters are so mild that all grasses or clovers can 

 be fall sown. In fall seeding it is more practical to sow with fall- 

 sown grain. The fall seeding, however, should be comparatively 

 early to insure strong growth of grass and early harvesting of grain 

 crop. 



Sowing in Cultivated Crops. Whenever there is sufficient late 

 summer rain to put the soil in good condition, it is very practical to 

 sow grass and clover seed in a cultivated crop like corn, in early fall. 

 The greatest objection is the difficulty in smoothing up the land 

 afterward, to make a smooth mowing meadow. 



Time of Sowing. In the northern half of the United States 

 early spring sowing is practised. The most unfavorable time is from 

 June 1 to August 1, when hot, dry weather is likely to occur. 



All the common grasses are hardy enough to withstand the winter 

 if fall sown with the winter wheat. The clovers and alfalfa are less 

 hardy and must be sown early, generally not later than August 1 for 

 red clover or August 15 for alfalfa. As it is not practical to sow 

 winter grain so early, the general custom is to sow timothy with the 

 wheat, and clover early the following spring. 



Amount of Seed to Sow. It is the usual custom to sow enough 

 seed of grasses and clovers to insure a full stand when conditions 



