22 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



sown falJ upon the surface of tlip soil. Wlien tlicy fall 

 before the ,i;rain tubes they are partially covered. When 

 they fall behind them they have no (.'oN-ering except such 

 as may be gi\-('ii subsequently. Some "broadcast seed- 

 ers," that is, seeders which sow grain by scattering 

 it broadcast are also furnished with grass seed attach- 

 ments. Grass seeds are sometimes mixed with grain 

 and sown with the same, but this method of sowing in 

 many instances buries the seed too deeplv. 



The sowing of grass seeds with the grain drill or with 

 the grass seed attachment to the same, results in a con- 

 siderable saving of labor. But even this method of sow- 

 ing them cannot be said to be perfected. When the seed 

 is sown along with the grain, in addition to being buried 

 too deeply in nearly all soils, it is deposited in the line 

 of the grain row, hence the young plants are crowded 

 and shaded more than if they could be deposited be- 

 tween the grain rows. And when the seed falls on the 

 surface, additional covering is necessary. If, therefore, 

 a seed drill were invented that would deposit grass seeds 

 between the grain rows and while the gr:iin was being 

 sown, and that wovLld cover the seed at ai y desired 

 (k'])!h, in the judgment of the author a great advance 

 would be made in the method of sowing grass seeds. 

 Mrjre perfect jnachinery is also \-\'anted for the even 

 distribution of some ■/[' the lighter seed?, as for instance 

 the seed of meadow foxtail ( Alopccurus: pratensis). 

 Such seeds do not feed into the distributors of the grass 

 seeds now in use with thai regularity that could be de- 

 sired. But one make at least of the hand sower which 



