TIME FOR SOWING SEED. 



to which gypsum (sulphate of lime) may always be added 

 with advantage, as it not only dilutes the guano and 

 assists in its more equal distribution over the surface (see 

 p. 302 and 420, vol. i.), but is in itself a valuable manu- 

 rial application to the crop. Where a fair dose of farm- 

 yard manure has been given, from 2 to 3 cwts. of Peruvian 

 guano, carefully mixed with from half a ton to a ton of 

 gypsum, will generally be sufficient, and may either be 

 broadcasted at the time of sowing and harrowed in, or 

 may be drilled in with the seed in the usual manner. 



The best time for sowing is the latter half of the month 

 of April ; if sown earlier it is very likely to be checked, 

 or even destroyed, by the frosty nights and mornings so 

 frequent in this climate at that period of the year. Some 

 care is required in the selection of seed, which is always 

 of foreign growth, and therefore more open to mixture 

 than if grown under the inspection of our own seedsmen. 

 It is most important that it should be well matured and 

 quite fresh; even the second year a considerable percent- 

 age refuse to germinate, and thus necessitate a larger 

 quantity per acre to insure a plant, than if fresh seed 

 were used. The Dutch and French seed are the best. The 

 seed is larger in size and paler in colour than clover, and 

 should always be plump and of a bright appearance. 

 Adulterations may be detected in the manner already 

 described in regard to clover seed. The quantity to be 

 sown per acre varies according to the mode adopted. 

 For drilling, from 7 to 10 Ibs. are sufficient; for broad- 

 casting, about double that quantity 15 to 20 Ibs. are 

 generally used. For all purposes, however, drilling is 

 always preferable to broadcasting ; only half the quantity 

 of seed is required, it is more equally distributed and de- 

 posited in the soil, and affords an opportunity of using 

 the hoe more freely and more economically in keeping 

 down the weeds, thus securing more productive returns. 



