188 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



with a flail, and in many instances at least, the seed 

 thus threshed could be sown in the chaff with positive 

 advantage, the same season in which it grew. In fact, 

 under certain conditions, it could be sown at once. 



Renewing. — If the stand of Russian brome grass is 

 unduly thin at the first, it may be improved by adding 

 more seed in the autumn and covering or not covering 

 with the harrow acccording as sound judgment may 

 dictate. Under some conditions it may be prefer- 

 able to add the seed in the spring. But even though 

 the stand should be thin, if it is fairly regular it 

 will thicken up sufiiciently. But its behavior in this 

 respect is much influenced by soil and climate. Where 

 moisture is deficient, it does not thicken to nearly the 

 same extent as under conditions the opposite. 



This grass may be renewed in very many instances by 

 simply ploughing it and then smoothing the surface with 

 the . harrow. The results will be greatly influenced, 

 however, by the way in which the work is done. In 

 ploughing, the aim should be to cut narrow rather than 

 broad furrows and to lay them over at a sharp angle 

 rather than flat,- and to plough but moderately deep as 

 ploughing is done in the locality. The preferable time 

 for such ploughing is when the ground is moist. When 

 thus treated the grass will start off with renewed vigor. 

 How frequently this mode of renewal may be practiced 

 and how long it may be expected to prove effective, can- 

 not be stated on evidence based on American experi- 

 ence, but there would seem to be no good reasons for con- 

 cluding that it would not succeed indefinitely or at least 

 for a long time. This mode of renewal would seem to 



