208 MARKET GARDENING. 



In laying down a pasture field, it is best to do it in 

 the autumn, if conditions of moisture will permit, for 

 the reason that time is then less precious; but spring 

 seeding, when the land is thoroughly prepared, is quite 

 as effective. All prescriptions for grass seed mixtures, 

 however, are little more than generalities, for no one 

 can compile a table or series of tables, showing the varie- 

 ties positively adapted to different localities, for soils, 

 even on adjoining fields, frequently vary so much as to 

 require an entire change in the varieties and proportions. 

 How much more difficult to prescribe for unknown soils, 

 some, perhaps, a thousand miles away. 



The geological constitution, rainfall, drainage, alti- 

 tude and objects Bought, whether for hay or grazing, all 

 need to be studied. The best guide is the experience of 

 others in one's location, but even that is often mislead- 

 ing, for we have grown grand crops of Timothy and 

 Clover in a section of a Southern State, where the farm- 

 ers seldom saved any hay, trusting almost entirely to 

 corn fodder of course, there were no barnyards worthy 

 of the name, in that locality. As an example, for ordi- 

 nary soils a pasturage mixture might consist of forty 

 pounds to the acre of Timothy, Orchard, Blue grass, 

 Red Top, Perennial Rye grass and Red clover. Such a 

 combination would be pretty certain to effect a stand, 

 and, when once established, would comprehend some 

 one variety in luxuriant growth throughout the extent 

 of the growing season. 



Of course, in special locations, as on lowlands or 

 mountain sides, or on special soils, as sands, gravels, 

 clays, loams, some of the named sorts might, with 

 advantage, be omitted, and others added. Timothy, for 

 example, a short-lived hay grass, does .best on well- 

 drained land, and in northern latitudes. Red Top, a 

 longer-lived sort, does better on moist land, even sus- 

 taining long-continued overflow. Orchard grass, on the 



