86 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



the amount recommended, say one-half bushel of six pounds, 

 would give, say 936 seeds to the square foot, or six and a 

 half seeds to the square inch." 



For stopping gullies in old fields it is superior to blue 

 grass, as it will throw its long, searching roots from the top 

 down the sloping banks of the washes, and fasten to every 

 patch of good soil at the bottom, and then from every joint 

 starts up a stalk to get a fresh hold. It affords a very 

 good aftermath from which, in wet falls, a fair crop may be 

 cut. Unless well tramped in the late fall it is liable to 

 form tufts that rise out of the soil from the effects of 

 freezing, and are destroyed. Therefore, after cutting, let 

 on the stock and their feet will insure a good turf, and 

 besides, will destroy weeds. But the cattle should be taken 

 off the pasture after rains have filled the earth with water, or 

 it will become too rough for the proper use of the mower. 



The quantity of seed per acre, when sown alone, is about 

 half a bushel. The seed is usually sold in the chaff, it 

 being difficult to separate it. Wh$n badly cleaned a bushel 

 per acre will not be too much. 



The time for harvesting is when it is in full flower, or as 

 soon thereafter as possible, when all the elements that are 

 . necessary to form the seeds are still in the stalk and leaves. 

 Left to ripen fully, it becomes woody and innutritions. 



Many pursue the plan of mixing the timothy and Herds 

 grass together, as they ripen together, and the Herds grass 

 being much lower than the former fills in well, and the two 

 will make a more abundant yield than either separate. But 

 one requires pasturage and that will destroy the other. 



It should be sown in September, unless sown on wheat, 

 and then as early as practicable, to enable the roots to get 

 sufficient depth to resist the cold of winter. If sown alone 

 it will, like timothy, make about a half crop the ensu- 

 ing year. But it is a difficult matter to induce our Ten- 

 nessee farmers to forego a crop of something every year, 

 consequently it is usually sown over a grain field, either 



