AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 25 



On Sowing Grass Seeds. A diversity of opinion exists 

 relative to the best time for sowing grass seeds. Some pre- 

 fer the fall ; but the majority of those who have written on 

 the subject recommend sowing in the spring; and that sea- 

 son, so far as our acquaintance extends, is most generally 

 chosen. European writers direct, \ ven when grass seed is 

 sown on the same ground with winter grain, to sow the 

 grass seed in the spring, and harroiv it in. They say that 

 the harrowing wi'l on the whole be of service to the grain, 

 thou_,h a few of the plants will be torn up by the process. 

 The Hon. Richard Peters likewise directed to ' harrow your 

 winter grain in the spring, in the direction of the seed fur- 

 rows, or drills, and be nof afraid of disturbing a feAV plants ; 

 manifold produce will remuner'^te for the destroyed.' 



The Farmer's Assista7it says, ' Clover may be sown with 

 barley, oats, or spring wheat, when that article is raised ; or 

 it may be sown with winter vv'heat in the fall, if the land be 

 dry and warmly exposed ; or in the spring, when it should 

 be lisfhtly harrowed in. The Domestic Encyclopedia as- 

 serts that ' experienced farmers generally prefer sowing 

 clover with wheat rather than with barley or oats, as in dry 

 seasons the clover frequently overpowers the oats or barley, 

 and if it be sown late in order to obviate this evil, it often 

 fails, and the crop is lost for that season. Probably the di- 

 versity of opinion respecting the proper time of sowing clover 

 seed may arise from the difference in the nature of the soil 

 on which trials have been made. An experienced agricul- 

 turist, (Edward Duffield, Esq., of Philadelphia county,) as- 

 sures Dr. Mease that he repeatedly failed in obtaining a crop, 

 when he sowed his clover in autumn or winter ; and he is 

 uniformly successful when he sows in the spring. His soil 

 is a light loam.' 



On the other hand, an experienced and scientific cultiva- 

 tor, Avhose suffjO-estions on this subject were published in the 

 New England Farmer, vol. vi. p. 238, dated Weston, and 

 signed J. M. G., says, ' Dear bought experience has taught 

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