90 The Number of Germinating Seeds 



and defective conditions of soil, is it not evident that if 

 we wish to have a full take of grass we must put down 

 plenty of seed ? It is true that by liberal feeding with 

 cake on the land, or by manuring in some other way, a 

 thin supply of plants on the land will gradually tiller out 

 and cover the ground ; but while this process is going on 

 what evils and losses are occurring ! The numerous 

 parts of the soil which are unfilled with roots run to- 

 gether, or solidify gradually from the action of the 

 elements and the tread of the stock, weeds and bad 

 grasses find ample spaces in which to establish them- 

 selveSj and the production of the field is, of course, far 

 below what it would have been had it been at once 

 filled with grass plants ; and the intrusion of moss is 

 sure to take place in a greater or less degree, in accord- 

 ance with the nature of the soil and climate. It should 

 be considered, too, that if the plans of the farmer make 

 it advisable that he should feed stock with cake on a 

 fully-planted young pasture, he will obtain additional 

 advantages from the land being well filled with plants. 

 It is evidently better, then, from many points of view, 

 to at once fill the ground with the plants you wish to 

 remain in permanent possession, and that it pays better 

 to spend a little more on seed than to make up, or 

 partially make up, for the deficiencies of thin seeding by 

 subsequent manuring, there can be no doubt. But what 

 is a full seeding? or a seeding sufficient to insure the 

 land being well filled with plants ? If the selection used 

 should be of the same kinds as those recommended by 

 me, then it is plain that, from the results obtained, 

 20,000,000 of germinating seeds would be an ample 

 supply, as the mixture I have used contains 19,931,145 

 in the case of the field cut for hay, and in which Italian 

 ryegrass was put down to increase the hay crop ; and 

 in the case of the other field alluded to, and which 

 was grazed, and the results from which could not be 

 surpassed, 18,872,745 germinating seeds were put down. 

 But seeing that, from the total absence of blanks in the 



