18 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 
consider the best methods of handling such lands in 
order to keep the grass in the most productive con- 
dition. The methods to be employed in any particu- 
lar locality depend, of course, on the nature of the 
grasses best adapted to that locality. Much that 
might be said here is therefore deferred to later chap- 
ters, in which the grasses are discussed individually, 
and in which the treatment to be accorded each partic- 
ular species is set forth in detail. 
PREPARATION OF THE SEED-BED 
When timothy is sown in the fall with wheat, and 
clover added in the spring, as is usually done in the 
timothy region proper, little need be said regarding 
the preparation of the seed-bed. Wheat, in the region 
in question, usually follows either oats orcorn. When 
it follows oats it is well to plow under a light dressing 
of barn-yard manure in preparing for the wheat and 
grass crop. It is important that the land be plowed 
when it is in ‘‘ good season,’’ as Southern farmers say; 
that is, when it has just moisture enough in it to pul- 
verize nicely. In fact, the breaking of land should 
always be done when it is in this condition, but this is, 
of course, not always possible. The harrow should be 
used freely, so that a fine tilth may be secured before 
the seeding isdone. the manure gives the timothy 
and clover a good start, and the fine tilth renders a 
catch of timothy much more certain. 
When wheat and timothy follow corn, it is usually 
sufficient to disk the corn-stubble a couple of times 
after the corn is in the shock, unless the land is foul. 
It isto be presumed that the corn-land had a good 
