40 THE GRASSES 



There are many other grasses included in most of the 

 lists to be found in all the books from the time of Sinclair, 

 and it may be that a better pasture or meadow can be made 

 by adding them, but it will be quite enough gain for one 

 generation if the farmers of Tennessee will put in the few 

 given. A caution is needed in sowing meadows, not to sow 

 clover or orchard grass with timothy, because they do not 

 ripen with it. Clover and orchard grass, however, do ad- 

 mirably together, and if a small proportion of sweet vernal 

 grass be mixed with them, they make a hay of the very 

 finest quality. As a rule, however, red clover should not be 

 sown in a permanent meadow, because by so doing one of 

 its most valuable properties, viz., preparing the ground for 

 other crops, is lost, and because, being a biennial, it is 

 likely to run out on ground not already rich. It is doubt- 

 ful if red clover should ever be introduced into a permanent 

 pasture. White clover, however, may be so used in many 

 localities, especially where milk cows are kept. 



Though not exactly to the point of this paper, it may not 

 be amiss to state that land too poor to carry a stand of red 

 clover may be brought up by sowing it down in white 

 dover and turning under the white -clover after it has been 

 \rell pastured. Peas are also a good crop for the same 

 purpose. Rye is an excellent pioneer crop for red clover, 

 when sown in August, whether pastured or turned under 

 in March. One of the chief values of red clover itself 

 is as a preparation for wheat. A good clover sod is better 

 than a heavy coating of manure for the wheat crop. In 

 like manner, land that is to be put down in permanent grass 

 can be better manured at less cost by turning under a good 

 clorer sod than in any other way. Where this course has 

 been followed, however, care should be taken not to apply 

 mineral fertilizers to the grass, else the clover seeds that 

 have been shattered into the soil may be brought forward 

 so much as to take the grass. 



On any but the richest soils the establishment of a first- 



