114 



How THE FARM PAYS. 



reason why permanent mowing land cannot be kept in good con- 

 dition for twenty years, producing annually one-third more weight 

 than the mixture in common use. 



This quantity of grass seed is probably double as much as is 

 usually sown per acre, but as in the quality, so in the quantity, I consider 

 that the importance of the thicker seeding cannot be overestimated. 

 Not only does it keep down the weeds, but what is of even greater 

 importance, we get a thicker covering of the whole surface, so that 

 in case of severe droughts, instead of the sun beating down on the 

 bare soil, it is intercepted and shaded by the thickly growing plants. 

 It paid me to use this mixture while I was renting land at $10 per 

 acre even on a five years' lease. 



SWEET VERNAL GRASS. 



HARD FESCUE. 



SHEEP FESCUE. 



(Mr. H.) From what I have seen I can well attest the value of 

 your opinion in this matter, as the hay-field which I saw you in 

 process of cutting on the 9th of June is now, thirty days later, one 

 foot in height, while grass lands on all sides of it, where the ordi- 

 nary Timothy and Clover mixtures have been used, are only now being 

 harvested, and the aftermath, let the weather be what it may, can- 

 not be in the same condition as the field cut on the 9th of June now 

 is, and probably never will be in that condition. The wonder to me 

 is, why farmers, with the example that your land sets before them, do 

 not learn that five acres treated by this method would produce cer- 

 tainly not less than as much as could be taken from twenty-five acres 

 treated after the usual slipshod manner. 



Q. Is it your practice to sow grass seed by hand or by machine ? 



A. I always sow grass seed and clovers by hand, using both hands 



