Btjeeau op Ageioultuee, 261 



Because of this disposition of some valuable forage 

 plants to give way and of others to overshadow, it is 

 practically very difficult, if not impossible, to maintain 

 here permanent growths consisting of a great variety of 

 species ; and in view of this diflSoulty it seems at present 

 better practice to grow singly some one of the grasses, 

 or clovers, of proved value for the soil and climate, 

 rather than attempt any very elaborate mixture. 



Sbedmest's Mixtuees. 



Some seedmen's mixtures may be regarded with sus- 

 picion because of the well-known temptation to mix left- 

 over stock and sell it for what it will bring. If a part of 

 the seeds fail to germinate because of old age, some of 

 the rest will germinate, and the buyer never knows the 

 difference. Others are no doubt offered in good faith, 

 though probably not in all cases after making practical 

 tests. It is possible that some of the earlier American 

 writers, such as Flint, accepted mixtures that are prac- 

 ticable in England, without testing them here. Flint's 

 mixture recommended for permanent pastures is as fol- 

 lows: 



Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) 2 lbs. 



Orchard grass 6 lbs. 



Sweet-scented Vernal grass 1 lb. 



Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis?) 2 lbs. 



Red-top 2 lbs. 



Kentucky blue-grass .". 4 lbs. 



Italian rye grass 4 lbs. 



Perennial rye grass 6 lbs. 



Timothy S lbs. 



Rough-stalked meadow grass 2 lbs. 



Perennial clover (Red) 3 lbs. 



White clover 5 lbs. 



Total 40 lbs. 



The mixture looks very much as if it had originated 

 in England, and I believe, would, if sown in blue grass 

 soil, using our experience as a basis for judgment, re- 

 sult, at the end of three years, in an almost unmixed 

 growth of orchard grass. 



His second mixture for permanent pasture contains 

 forty-five pounds of seeds, with the two rye grasses, 

 Italian, and Perennial, holding chief place. This mixture 

 is, he says, recommended by a seed firm of Edinburg, as 

 might have been guessed from the important place given 



