36 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



vested when each variety has reached that stage of 

 growth when it is best fitted for making good hay. 

 Some of the less important of these combinations will 

 be referred to later, when discussing certain of the more 

 important of the grasses. 



When pastures are wanted the grasses sown to produce 

 them are generally sown in combination. To make per- 

 manent pastures they are nearly always sown thus. 

 Sometimes it may be advisable to sow but one variety to 

 produce pasture either temporary or permanent in char- 

 acter because of the peculiar adaptation of the same to 

 the climatic and also to the soil conditions. Kentucky 

 blue grass {Poa pi-atensis) , timothj {Phleum ■prateiise) , 

 Russian brome grass (Bromiis inermis) and Johnson 

 grass (Sorghum halapense) are frequently sown thus. 

 But in a great majority of instances it is advisable to 

 sow grasses in combinations to make permanent pas- 

 tures and the larger the number of the grasses that can 

 be successfully grown in these the more valuable are 

 they. When sown thus they not only produce more pas- 

 ture than one variety would, but they produce it more 

 continuously through the season and for a longer period. 

 This arises first, from the denser character of the 

 growth ; second, from the different parts of the season 

 when each variety is at its best, and third, from the 

 greater durability of some varieties as compared with 

 others. When determining the grasses which should 

 be sown in combination, the aim should be to sow only 

 such varieties as will produce relatively well under the 

 conditions present and that are not short lived. While 

 it may be proper in some instances to sow many varie- 



