174 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



observed to have the ground free from leaves before the 

 snow falls. 



There are others who sow in the latter part of February 

 or first of March, and this sometimes does as well as any 

 provided time is given for the grass to get sufficient hold to 

 resist the withering effects of the summer's drought. The 

 main care to* be taken, is to get the grass large enough to 

 live through freezing or dry weather. It will resist the 

 effects of frost better than heat however, and taking this 

 into consideration, the most approved time of sowing is in 

 the latter part of August or first of September. If sown at 

 this time the autumnal rains will germinate the seed, 

 and besides, at this season there is comparatively little 

 trash on the ground, the leaves having not yet fallen. The 

 ground being prepared, the seeds are sown broadcast, at the 

 rate of one bushel per acre, and the sower should be fol- 

 lowed with a harrow, or if the ground is very loose, with a 

 stiff brush. This will give them a sufficient covering. It 

 is a fact, demonstrated by actual experiment, as shown in 

 one of the tables herein contained, that grass seeds will veg- 

 etate best at a depth of one-quarter of an inch. It may be sup- 

 posed that, with no more covering than will be given by a 

 harrow or brush, a great many seeds will be uncovered. 

 This is very true, but in one pound of Blue Grass seeds, 

 (clean seed) there are 3,888,000 seeds. By a computation 

 every square inch of surface contains from ten to twelve 

 seeds. With this amount on the surface, one scarcely need 

 fear a stand, when, if one or two take root, there will be in 

 a year an excessively close turf. 



There can be but little difference of opinion in regard to 

 the treading of stock after sowing. All writers and farmers 

 agree, that for one year, at least, it should be kept from all 

 stock. After that, there is some difference. 



Dr. Gordon, who, as before stated, paid more attention 

 to it than any one else in the State, adopted a plan of man- 

 agement that has been repeatedly tested, with uniform suc- 

 cess. It was this : 



