OF TEXNESSEE. 43 



where one kind of grass, blue grass, is made to answer a most 

 excellent purpose, but the favoring circumstances which 

 render this course practicable do not occur in many other 

 sections, and nowhere outside of the blue grass regions. 

 Even on this favored soil there is good reason for believing 

 that the addition of several other kindred grasSfes would add 

 much to the best pastures. Be this as it may, there can be 

 no doubt as to the very great advantage to be derived from 

 a variety of grasses in other localities. One of the first 

 things observed by Sinclair in his experiments was. the fact 

 that there is naturally a constant succession in the time of 

 blooming of different grasses. As a result of this condition 

 of things, it is practicable to make a turf which shall 

 continue in good heart from early spring to late winter. 

 By reference to the table on another page, the time of 

 blooming of the various grasses may be learned. 



Another most important point to be determined in seed- 

 ing down land to pasture is the adaptability of the grass to 

 the location and soil. It is 'by no means to be supposed 

 that a grass that is rich and luxuriant in one place will be 

 equally so in every place. The very reverse is more likely 

 to be the case. Again, it is by no means the rankest grass 

 that makes the finest pasture — on the contrary, the finest 

 beef and the finest mutton are both grown on grass com- 

 paratively short though rich and nutritious. Indeed it is 

 the experience of the best grass farmers that great fineness 

 of grass is incompatible with great luxuriance. 



The notion too commonly prevails that when once a 

 farmer has put his grass in the ground his work is done — 

 that for the future he must trust to Providence, or, more 

 commonly, to luck. Nothing could be further from the 

 truth. His work is by no means done. It is only begun. 

 In the case of meadows and pastures, faith without works 

 is of no avail. Providence never asks to be trusted, but 

 demands to be obeyed. Luck is a myth' — there is no such 

 thing. Results good or bad flow naturally and inevitably 



