24 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 
to be sown alone, and this is a very good rule if one is 
not sure of the quality of the seed. A general rule, 
but one that should seldom be applied strictly, is to 
reduce the amount of each kind of seed in proportion 
to the number of kinds-in the mixture. This rule 
should be used with much caution, yet it is a guide of 
some value. If more or less of a given grass is wanted 
in the mixture, use its seed accordingly, and always 
make sure of sufficient seed of the best grasses in the 
mixture to secure a stand if the less important kinds 
should fail entirely. An indefinite number of mix- 
tures could be given as samples, but it would occupy 
more space than can be devoted to it in this volume to 
give the total number of such that might be used under 
varying conditions in the various parts of the country. 
Seedsmen usually make recommendations on this point 
in their catalogues, but such recommendations cannot 
be followed implicitly. 
Other things being equal, rich land requires more 
seed than poor land, and wet land more than dry. A 
well-prepared seed-bed requires less seed than one 
poorly prepared, because a larger proportion of the 
seed finds a chance to germinate. A single pound of 
timothy-seed to the acre, if every seed produced a 
thrifty plant, would give 27 plants on every square 
foot of land. Since it usually requires 12 to 15 lbs. 
of timothy to secure a good stand it is evident that only 
a small proportion of the seed sown on even the best- 
prepared land produce plants. On rough, cloddy land 
the proportion is much smaller. Seedsmen, in their 
recommendations as to the amounts to sow, make a 
good deal of allowance for poorly prepared land, and 
