128 How THE FARM PAYS. 



and gardening, I do not know; but there is no denying the broad 

 fact, that the cases on record are very few (personally I know not nor 

 never knew of one), where men who have tried to practice what they 

 precxihed on these subjects have been successful. Whenever I see a 

 man engaged in agricultural operations preparing himself by the 

 chemical analyses of his soils and of his manures, I at once make up 

 my mind that that man's chances for success are not as good as those 

 of his unlettered contemporary, who probably does not know the 

 meaning of the words. Still I would not discourage those who are 

 engaged in these scientific pursuits, and who have the means to 

 experiment, as the day may yet come when scientific farming and 

 scientific gardening may give practical results. 



Q. To return again to the subject of grasses do you use the 

 mixture previously mentioned on all portions of your farm ? 



A. No; on hillsides that are washed by the heavy rains I use 

 Rhode Island Bent Grass, for the reason that it forms new roots and 

 shoots from the joints, thus holding the soil and preventing its washing 

 down. I find, also, that it affords excellent pasture for sheep. I sow 

 it at the rate of three bushels to the acre (sometimes as much as four 

 bushels, if the land is very steep), together with a mixture of two or 

 three pounds of White Clover, as this is a low growing variety that 

 sheep are very fond of. By this method I have protected and kept 

 very steep hillsides from being washed by rains. The same mixture 

 is excellent for sheep pasture for high wood lands, where the trees are 

 not too close together. 



Q. About what average weight of hay does the mixture which you 

 advise for mowing produce? 



A. From two and one-half to three tons per acre, though four tons 

 is nothing unusual under high cultivation. Sometimes the second 

 growth is cut for the purpose of feeding lambs or young calves. 

 When not cut the sheep and young stock are turned onto it. When 

 cut I have had it produce from one and one-half to two tons per acre; 

 but always after a second cutting is made a top dressing of barn- 

 yard manure or bone meal should be put on, which stands in place 

 of the droppings from the calves and sheep when the land is pas- 

 tured. 



Q. Is it not better, in laying land to permanent pasture or perma- 

 nent hay, by sowing grass seed mixture by itself, to do so without 

 sowing wheat or other grain ? 



A. Yes; and in fact it is the very best way to sow down to perma- 

 nent grass, as the crop of wheat or rye takes away two-thirds of the 

 manure the first year, besides checking the growth of the grass. It 

 is a common idea that the grain is a fostering crop. This is a great 



