NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 



SEEDING LAND TO GRASS. 



In a former article, we spoke of some of the 

 leading points bearing upon this important sub- 

 ject, and will now briefly introduce a few more, 

 with such authorities as are at hand to sustain the 

 opinions which we advance. We shall be glad if 

 some of our intelligent correspondenfs will com- 

 municate their views, whether they agree with ours 

 or not. 



! The transpiration of plants— that is, the part- 

 ing with their moisture — is nearly confined to the 

 day, very little taking place during the night, and 

 it is much promoted by heat. Another effect of 

 the grain plants, therefore, among the young 

 grass would be to keep the whole field cooler and 

 more moist, and consequently in the most favora- 

 ble condition to live and grow. Under such cir- 

 cumstances, grass seed would seldom fail "to 

 catch," as it is called, because it would be placed 

 in a warm and moist position, and where the vari- 

 ations of temperature would scarcely affect it. 

 The action of the plants, like that of the human 

 system in health, would be regular, — not receiving 

 nutritive influences largely at one period and los- 

 ing weight at another, but steadily advancing in a 

 healthful and vigorous growth. For "the quanti- 

 ty of moisture imbibed by plants depends very 

 much upon what they transpire. The reason is 

 obvious. When the vessels are once filled with 

 gap, if none be carried off, no more can enter, and, 

 of course, the quantity which enters must depend 

 upon the quantity emitted." Checking rapid evap- 

 oration of the rains and dews, and preventing the 

 plant itself from sudden changes of gain and loss 

 of its moisture, keep it in a natural and healthy 

 condition and secures success. 



Another important fact goes to prove the bene- 

 ficial influences of the grain crop upon the young 

 grass. If the latter were sowed alone, the sur- 

 face of the soil must be nearly bare for some days 

 at least after the grass is up, and before it could 

 grow sufficiently to cover the ground. If dry, 

 hot weather should take place at this period, it 

 would be likely to ruin the crop, because evapora- 

 tion from both plants and soil would be very rapid. 



It is well ascertained that the earth becomes 

 heated much quicker and deeper under a bare sur- 

 face, than under a sod, or where any vegetation is 

 growing. From two or three experiments, "tried 

 in the coolest and warmest spots that could be 

 found, it was evident that the relative difference 

 in the temperature was uniform, and that on a 

 hot summer's day, the earth, six inches under sur- 

 face in sod, was eight degrees cooler than under a 

 clean, loose surface. This fact has a direct bear- 

 ing upon the question at issue, viz., whether it is 

 best to sow grain icith grass seed, in laying down 

 grass lands, or not ?" 



Few crops that we produce are more delicate 



and tender when young, than most of our grasses. 

 They are small, quite succulent, and liable to be 

 injured by various causes, so that any cheap and 

 efficient mode of protecting them will prove of no 

 small consideration to most farmers. The fail- 

 ures in seeding this crop make up an annual heavy 

 aggregate of loss. 



In a former paragraph we recommended the lay- 

 ing down of grass lands in August in the midst 

 of standing corn. A clear writer, and a practical 

 farmer, in an article upon "Com, as a Shade for 

 Fruit Trees and Plants," says : Last spring I 

 planted about half an acre of strawberries. After 

 the second hoeing, May 23, 1 planted corn between 

 all the rows, using a variety called Early Six 

 Weeks. I planted also one hundred Concord 

 Grape Vines, between the rows of which I planted, 

 May 25, Canada -or Eight Rowed Yellow Corn. 

 * * The drought this year was of short dura- 

 tion, about four weeks, but unusually severe, ow- 

 ing to the intensely hot weather. My strawber- 

 ries suffered to some extent, but comparatively 

 little. Of my grapes, two or three were injured, 

 but not more than one, I think, will be lost, while 

 the year before I lost at least twenty per cent, not 

 shaded by corn ! On a little more than half of a 

 newly planted patch of raspberries I planted King 

 Philip corn between the rows. None of that por- 

 tion of the raspberries was injured, but about half 

 of the rest died. Dwarf apple trees, planted last 

 spring on a gravelly soil with south western expo- 

 sure, have done much better where they were 

 shaded by small corn than where the ground was 

 planted to potatoes. * * From my experience 

 and observation, he adds, I am led to the convic- 

 tion that for this climate the cultivation of corn 

 among fruit trees, grape vines, raspberries, straw- 

 berries, &c, the first summer after they are set 

 out, is a practice of very great value. 



A few more points present themselves for con- 

 sideration, which we will defer to another paper. 



■WHAT WILL BECOME OF AGRICUL- 

 TURAL SOCIETIES P 



This question, and the following paragraph in 

 reply thereto, closes an article on the subject of 

 the late organization of the "Illinois Wool-grow- 

 ers' Association," written by Mr. Blagden, one of 

 the editors of the Rural New Yorker. He regards 

 this as a movement in the right direction. It is 

 no longer enough that farmers — asa class — should 

 combine ; each specific interest roust have its spe- 

 cific organization, as is the case with the different 

 branches of commercial and mechanical business. 

 And this, in the opinion of Mr. Blagden, is what 

 will beoome of our old Agricultural Societies. 

 He says : 



The mission of these societies is ended. Their 

 work is done. They have been pioneers of pro- 



