1871. 



NEW ENGLAOT) FARMER. 



209 



SOW A VARIETY OF GRASS SEEDS. 

 ERY many fanners in laj'- 

 i^' ing lands to grass sow 

 only two kinds of seed, 

 timothy and red top, when the 

 -, fci -Xif seed is sown with grain in the 

 ^ '5'?^ spring. Clover seed is usually 

 added the succeeding spring, 

 though sometimes it is sown with 

 the other seeds. 



When the sward is turned over in the 

 autumn, clover seed is usually sown with the 

 grass seeds, as it has time to get established 

 so as not to be thrown out by frosts the suc- 

 ceeding winter. Clover seed is not generally 

 used with a grain crop, as it is supposed to 

 cover the ground so closely as to obstruct the 

 growth of the grain. 



The question to be decided, is, whether or 

 not it is best to sow a larger variety of seeds, 

 or continue on in the old routine ? • 



If we examine the turf of an old pasture 

 that is well stocked with grasses, one that 

 affords rich feed, and that holds good through 

 the summer, we shall find that it contains a 

 considerable variety of grasses, — from ten to 

 fifteen varieties, instead of the two varieties, 

 timothy and red top, which are commonly 

 used. Does this indicate that the soil may 

 contain elements which are favorable to dif- 

 ferent kinds of grasses and will produce them 

 abundantly if their seeds are sown in it ? It 

 certainly seems so. Mr. Secretary Flint, in 

 his work on Grasses and Forage Plants, says : 

 "I hold this proposition to be indisputable ; 

 that any soil will yield a larger and more nu- 

 tritious crop if sown with several kinds of 

 nutritious grasses, than when sown with only 

 one or two species. Indeed it is a fact es- 

 tablished by careful experiment, that admix- 

 ture of only two or three species of grasses 

 and clover will produce a less amount of hay 

 than can be obtained by sowing a larger num- 

 ber of species together. * * But it is true 

 that if we sow but one kind of grass, however 

 abundantly the seed may be scattered, or on 

 whatever soil it may be, or under however 

 favorable influences, only a part of the plants 

 will flourish ; vacant places will occur through- 

 out the piece, which will be filled up after a 

 time by grasses of an inferior quality, weeds 

 or mosses. If a mixture made up of a larger 

 number of kinds of seed, is used the plants 



will cover the entire surface, and produce a 

 far better quality of herbage." 



We do not cultivate Orchard grass, some- 

 times called Itoiigh Cock'^s Foot, to half the 

 extent which would prove profitable. The 

 late Judge Buel said he should prefer it to 

 almost every other kind of grass. Cows 

 are very fond of it. It is one of the most 

 lasting grasses we have. A field stocked 

 with orchard grass, which we occasionally see, 

 has been mowed, it is stated, for more than 

 thirty years in succession, and now yields 

 about one ton of hay per acre. As a pasture 

 grass it affords an early bite, and as a crop 

 for hay sowed with red clover it is of a very 

 high order. When used for pasturage, it 

 should be kept closely cropped. Sheep will 

 pass over every other grass to feed upon it, 

 otherwise it becomes coarse and harsh. It is 

 less exhausting to the soil than rye grass or 

 timothy. It will endure considerable shade, 

 and as its fibrous roots extend to a long dis- 

 tance below the surface, it will withstand 

 drought for a long time. 



Referring for a moment to the manner in 

 which old pastures are stocked, we find that 

 an examination of one gave to a square foot 

 of the surface 910 plants ; 880 of these were 

 natural grasses ; thirty were clover and other 

 plants, and twelve were distinct species. 



Let us suggest to the farmer, to test a piece 

 of land this spring with a much larger variety 

 of seeds than he has usually employed, and 

 communicate results to these columns. 



ALSIKE CLOVER. 



Several inquiries were made through our 

 columns last year as to the value of the Alsilce, 

 or Swedish clover, trifolium Jiybiiduvi. It is 

 a hybrid of the ordinary red and white clovers, 

 and while it partakes of the qualities of both, 

 it has some peculiarities which belong to 

 neither of them. 



We have carefully observed the opinions 

 given of this plant by those who have culti- 

 vated it, and find a general agreement on 

 several points. That its roots are fibrous,, 

 and of unusual length, which would tend tct 

 prevent its being thrown out of the ground by- 

 frost, and give it ability to withstand drought. 

 It makes finer and better hay, for the stalks 

 are not so thick and woody as those of red 

 clover. Its foliage and blossoms ai'C more 



