SELECTION AND MIXTURE. 267 



of the quantity which he must sow, since he can tell 

 whether a half, or three-fourths, or the whole, will be 

 likely to germinate, and can regulate his sowing accord- 

 ingly. The seeds of the clovers, if they are new and 

 fresh, will show their germs on the third or fourth day ; 

 other seeds will take a little longer ; but, till they be- 

 come coated with mould, there is hope of their germi- 

 nating. As soon as the mould appears it is decisive, 

 and the seed that moulds is worthless. 



It is difficult to over-estimate the importance to the 

 farmer of a good selection and proper mixture of grass- 

 seeds for the various purposes of cultivation, for mow- 

 ing, for soiling, for permanent pasturage, or for an 

 alternate crop. 



Doubtless the varieties of seed usually sown in this 

 country, consisting almost exclusively of Timothy and 

 redtop, with a mixture of red clover, are among the 

 best for our purposes, and their exclusive use is, in a 

 measure; sanctioned by the experience and practice of 

 our best farmers ; yet it would seem very strange, 

 indeed, if this vast family of plants, consisting of thou- 

 sands of species and varieties, and including, as already 

 intimated, nearly a sixth part of the whole vegetable 

 kingdom, could furnish no more than two or three truly 

 valuable species. 



When we consider, also, that some species are best 

 adapted to one locality, and others to another, some 

 reaching their fullest and most perfect development on 

 clay soils, and some on lighter loams and sands, we can- 

 not but wonder that the practice of sowing only Timo- 

 thy and redtop on nearly all soils, clays, loams, and 

 sands, indiscriminately, both on high and low land, 

 should have become so prevalent. 



It is equally remarkable that while but very few of 

 our grasses, and these for the most part species peculiar 



