SEEDING TO FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 21 



the seed, is a satisfactory implement for most grass and clover seeds 

 and is quite generally used. When seeding with mixtures, however, 

 it has the same disadvantage as scattering the seed by hand; the 

 heavier clover seeds are thrown so much farther than the finer grasses 

 that the distribution may be unequal. 



Thick seeding, especially for meadows of short duration, is 

 commonly recommended by seedsmen and experienced farmers. For 

 hay the advantage, as a rule, is not in an increased yield, but rather 

 in the finer quality of the crop. If soil and weather are favourable, 

 a satisfactory stand of Timothy, Alsike and Red Clover, for instance, 

 may be had by sowing four, three and six pounds respectively per 

 acre. By sowing six pounds of Timothy, four of Alsike and ten of 

 Red Clover, the chance will be better for securing a good stand of 

 plants, suppressing the weeds, and obtaining a large yield of hay of 

 good quality. The cost of the additional seed should be considered 

 as inexpensive insurance of satisfactory results. Thick seeding is 

 not recommended for a seed crop. Both yield and quality of the seed 

 are inferior when the stand is too thick. 



Quality of seed is an important factor in making a meadow. 

 The rental value of the land plus the cost of preparing it are many 

 times greater than the cost of the seed ; but if only a small percentage 

 of the seed is capable of germination and that which is vital is not 

 true to name, or if it is infested with noxious weed seeds, the total 

 outlay may result in a loss, or, worse still, in a positive injury. 



The origin of growth of grass and clover seeds is often equiv- 

 alent to varietal differences, usually in point of hardiness. Grass 

 plants grown from seeds produced in a warm climate are more easily 

 winter killed, and those from a moist temperate climate are more 

 susceptible to drought than are thoroughly acclimated plants. 

 Experiments with Alfalfa at Guelph show that northern grown seed,, 

 particularly that from long-established fields in the district, is more 

 hardy than seed obtained from dryer or warmer climates. Red Clover 

 from southern Europe or from Chili, although of satisfactory type, 

 will not stand the Canadian winter as well as plants from home- 

 grown seed. Competent seedsmen should know the origin of the 

 grass and clover seeds they sell, and purchasers should demand seed 

 of northern and, if procurable, of local production. 



Varieties : Few Canadian farmers differentiate between varieties 

 of the common grasses and clovers. In fact, varieties of Timothy, 



