146 Cultivation of the Grasses. 



three kinds is quite sufficient, say red-top, timothy, red and white 

 clover, in generous quantities, will answer. What the soil re- 

 quires is to be thoroughly swarded over to grass by the second 

 season of mowing, rooting out all weeds and foul vegetation. 

 Thick seeding will invariably give a finer and better quality of 

 grass for hay, and will also, continue to grow good crops, 

 much longer than when the seed is stintingly scattered. 



Sweet scented vernal grass, is frequently found grooving natu- 

 rally in meadow-lands and the by wayside, it exhales a delightful 

 perfume of an aromatic character. It is a good pasture grass, but 

 for hay, its qualities are not altogether desirable, it continues to 

 flourish during the entire season of vegetation. 



Kentucky blue grass, is not known among the northern farmers 

 to the extent its merit deserves. It makes a heavy grass and 

 hearty food for animals. There is a variety of blue grass, pecu- 

 liar to the pasture lands of New England in appearance and 

 quality, slightly favoring its Kentucky neighbor. I should par- 

 ticularly recommend the Kentucky blue grass for trial among the 

 farmers generally, in order to correctly ascertain its qualifications 

 for enduring and flourishing in the more extreme latitudes ; it has 

 already been proven invaluable for lawn purposes on account of 

 its capability for enduring drouths, and also because it gives a del- 

 icate velvety appearance. 



In an article of this character, I can only glance at a few varie- 

 ties. Those I have mentioned are kinds in ordinary use, and are 

 sufficient for practical purposes,whether for feed or rural embellish- 

 ment. A large list of grasses, illustrated by appropriate engrav- 

 ings, may be found in the Gardeners and Farmers Dictionary. 



The proper time for seeding lands to grass in this section, is 

 generally in the spring with oats, or spring wheat, or barle3^ Oats 

 however, have the preference ; the only objection to which is, 

 when they grow too heavy and rank, they are apt to lodge, and 

 the young grass is smothered and killed out. Barley, and spi-ing 

 wheat are not so objectionable on this account, but for some rea- 

 son, grass seed with the latter crops do not catch well at all 

 times. 



Instances are recorded in which success, the most flattering has 

 been realized by sowing grass seed with buckwheat, which grati- 

 fying result has also attended fall sowing with rye and winter 

 wheat. 



Some two years ago, I saw a meadow turned over in the month 



