1 8 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



consider the best methods of handling such lands in 

 order to keep the grass in the most produdtive con- 

 dition. The methods to be employed in any particu- 

 lar locality depend, of course, on the nature of the 

 grasses best adapted to that locality. Much that 

 might be said here is therefore deferred to later chap- 

 ters, in which the grasses are discussed individually, 

 and in which the treatment to be accorded each partic- 

 ular species is set forth in detail. 



PREPARATION OF THE SEED-BED 



When timothy is sown in the fall with wheat, and 

 clover added in the spring, as is usually done in the 

 timothy region proper, little need be said regarding 

 the preparation of the seed-bed. Wheat, in the region 

 in question, usually follows either oats or corn. When 

 it follows oats it is well to plow under a light dressing 

 of barn-yard manure in preparing for the wheat and 

 grass crop. It is important that the land be plowed 

 when it is in " good season," as Southern farmers say; 

 that is, when it has just moisture enough in it to pul- 

 verize nicely. In fad;, the breaking of land should 

 always be done when it is in this condition, but this is, 

 of course, not always possible. The harrow should be 

 used freely, so that a fine tilth may be secured before 

 the seeding is done. The manure gives the timothy 

 and clover a good start, and the fine tilth renders a 

 catch of timothy much more certain. 



When wheat and timothy follow corn, it is usually 

 sufficient to disk the corn-stubble a couple of times 

 after the corn is in the shock, unless the land is foul. 

 It is to be presumed that the corn-land had a good 



