34 



grasses are generally recognized, yet its efficiency may be greatly 

 increased in this connection by the addition of some suitable potash 

 compound, to turn its excess of nitrogen to better account. Two 

 thousand pounds of barn-yard manure contain on an average eight to 

 ten pounds of nitrogen, four to five pounds of phosphoric acid and 

 nine to twelve pounds of potassium oxide. One hundred pounds of 

 muriate of potash to every ton of barn-yard manure needed will 

 serve a good purpose, and in many cases allow a reduction in the 

 amount of barn-yard manure otherwise considered necessary. A 

 top-dressing of grass land with two hundred pounds of muriate of 

 potash and five hundred pounds of fine-ground bone has given 

 much satisfaction in our field experiments. Our grass lands are as 

 a rule deficient in available potash compounds. 



On Selection of Seed. 



The family of grasses is very numerous, — it includes all our 

 cereals ; the number of those cultivated by human effort is, how- 

 ever, comparatively small for limited districts. The majority of 

 grasses are of a spontaneous growth, and in their general char- 

 acter, in a controlling degree, depend on the condition of the soil 

 and climate. In regard to their duration of life they may be clas- 

 sified into annual, biennial and perennial grasses. The annual 

 and biennial grasses are propagated by seeds and the perennials 

 usually by both seeds and sprouts starting from the roots. 



In examining the different grasses with reference to their mode 

 of growth we notice a more or less marked difference among differ- 

 ent species and varieties. Some show a decided tendency to soon 

 send out numerous upright shoots, bearing liberally flowers ; while 

 others show this tendency more sparingly, and spend their vital 

 energy in the production of numerous low, knotty shoots, clinging 

 more or less closely to the ground, thereby forming a close sod. 

 This class of grasses requires frequently from two to three years 

 after seeding before it contributes liberally to the hay crop ; it 

 furnishes meanwhile valuable pastures. 



To secure upon temporary grass lands a good and early annual 

 yield of hay, it is necessary to select largely the seeds of those 

 grasses which send out at once many tall, blooming shoots. The 

 shorter the period designed for keeping the lands covered with 

 grasses, the more ought l6w-growing perennial grasses to be ex- 

 cluded. 



The degree of success upon permanent meadows, as far as the 

 quality and quantity of the annual yield of hay is concerned, de- 

 pends largely upon the care taken to ascertain the most advan- 

 tageous relative proportion of both mentioned classes of grasses 



