Rofighly prepared Land requires more Seed. 135 



Note by Mr. James Hunter on more Seed being required when the Land 

 is not in fine tilth. 



The capacity of even the small delicate-seeded grasses for establish- 

 ing themselves under unfavourable conditions of soil, &o, , is remark- 

 able, and, in my opinion, sowing on rough land means chiefly a loss of 

 a portion of the seed sown, but it does not prevent the remaining 

 portion from ultimately doing well. My views are these ; — If sown on 

 a fine tilth, and under perfect conditions as regards moisture and heat, 

 every seed having germinating capacity may be expected to germinate 

 and establish itself, if not interfered with by birds or otherwise. If 

 sown on soil not properly pulverized, a, small and delicate grass seed 

 falling on the outside of a clod might germinate, but might be scorched 

 and killed by a day or two's hot sunshine and drought before it could 

 obtain root-hold. If the same seed fell in a hollow, and was covered 

 by a clod, it would have no chance of germinating, being too deeply 

 covered. In both these cases the seeds are practically lost, and the 

 outcome of the matter is that, while with a fine tilth and suitable 

 conditions as regards moisture and warmth, a perfect germination from 

 all the seeds sown may be immediately obtained, sowing on rough land 

 cannot possibly give such good results, as probably one-half of these 

 fine seeds have fallen where they cannot succeed , and an extra allow- 

 ance of seed should be sown on rough land to compensate for the seeds 

 that will be lost. 



Large-seeded grasses, such as cocksfoot, meadow and tall fescues, 

 and ryegrasses, have naturally greater staying powers than the small- 

 seeded grasses and the clovers. 



It must be a question for the agriculturist to decide whether it will 

 suit him best to prepare his land perfectly and sow less seed, or sow 

 on rougher land and use more seed. In many cases it is impossible to 

 prepare the land perfectly, and there is nothing for it but to do the 

 best one can in this respect, and not stint the seed when the land is 

 rougher than it should be at the time of laying down. 



