No. 4.] THE GRASS CROP. 257 



better account. Two thousand pounds of barn-yard niainue 

 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. Fifty pounds of muriate of potasli 

 to every ton of barn-yard manure needed will serve a 

 good pur[)Ose, 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 jiounds of 

 muriate of potasli and live hundred pounds of line-ground, 

 bone has given much satisfaction in our lield experiments. 

 Our grass lands are as a rule deficient in available potash 

 compounds. 



Ox Selection of Seed. 



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

 our cereals ; the number of those cultivated by human effort 

 is, however, comparatively small for limited districts. The 

 majority of grasses are of a spontaneous growth, and in their 

 general character, in a controlling degree, depend on the con- 

 dition of the soil and climate. In regard to their duration 

 of life they may be classified into annual, biennial and peren- 

 nial 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 o-rasses with reference to their 

 mode of growth we notice a more or less marked difference 

 among different species and varieties. Some show a decided 

 tendency to soon send out numerous u})right 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 keep- 

 ing the lands covered with grasses, the more ought low- 

 growing perennial grasses to be excluded. 



