( 83) 



juncea, a rush looking sedge, or rather a grass- like sedge; aira 

 flexuvsa, or wood hair grass, an ornamental grass of the Northern 

 latitudes; danthonia compressa, or wild oat grass, and trisetum 

 wolle, or downy persoon. Besides these were many others not de- 

 termined by any of the botanists in the company. These grasses 

 afford an immense pasturage during the summer to vast herds of 

 cattle that are driven by the citizens for miles around to summer 

 on them. Gen. Wilder, who owns a large section of land there, 

 informed us the grass, when enclosed from the stock, grew to the 

 height of four feet. Very many varieties existed, all growing 

 promiscuously together. This goes far to show the great difference 

 of the development of the species in different localities, for at lower 

 altitudes, with the exception of the carex juncea, these grasses grow 

 quite low. 



TIMES AND MANNER OF SOWING. 



Up to 1810 the almost invariable rule among all farmers was to 

 sow grass seeds in the spring of the year on crops of grain. Since 

 that time the practice has changed to a great extent, and while 

 some still adhere to spring sowing, the great majority of farmers 

 sow in the early fall. Some few sow grass alone, but the most of 

 them sow with some kind of grain. The former is most decidedly 

 the best, and should in every possible case be practiced. There are 

 many who contend it is much better to sow alone, as the half crop 

 that will be harvested the next year is fully equivalent to the value 

 of the grain crop, while if the two are sown together, they both 

 work injuriously on each other. The stand of grass is injured, and 

 the yield of grain is diminished. With all that, the general cus- 

 tom is to sow on grain fields, and wait until the second year for hay. 

 But one thing is very essential, let it be sown with whatever it may, 

 it must be in the ground long enough before frosts to take a deep 

 root, or much of it will be destroyed by cold. Clover must, how- 

 ever, in either case, be reserved until spring, as, when young, it is 

 very sensitive to the effects of cold unless it is sown in August. It 

 is the custom of some farmers to sow clover and other grass seeds 

 mixed, in the last plowing of late corn. Should that course be de- 

 cided on, the corn must be late, and plowed on the level principle, 

 and the clover sown after the last plowing. Some crops have suc- 

 ceeded admirably put in on this plan. But the better plan will be 



