176 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



would not let it seed at all. His great success in this branch 

 of agriculture will, in every country where he is known, 

 give weight to his authority. 



Others say no stock should go on it for at least two years, 

 or at least until after the first seeding, which will take place 

 in June of the second year. Some of the best Blue Grass 

 lots in Middle Tennessee have been started by following 

 either of the above plans. Of one thing, there cannot be a 

 doubt, and that is the ground should not be well broken up. 

 On the surface it should be as firmly packed as possible to 

 secure a perfect stand and form a perfect turf. When the 

 surface is too loose, the grass easily dries up, and is much 

 easier frozen out, the seeds not going into a germinating depth. 

 Under favorable weather, seed sown in the spring on a crop 

 of oats, will do as well as fall sowing. What is meant by 

 favorable weather, is that no unusual dry weather super- 

 venes. But there is always the risk of meeting with unfa- 

 vorable weather in spring sowing, and on that account we 

 wouldj'ecommend sowing in autumn. But it is better the 

 sowing should take place as early in the fall as the weather 

 will permit, or, indeed, the latter part of summer, if there 

 is a proper degree of moisture in the soil. Some farmers 

 sow a limited amount of seed daily and over the same sur- 

 face sprinkle shelled corn, then turn on their hogs. They 

 root in search of the corn and thus plant the seed, doing the 

 work of plow and harrow. This, to say the least, is a slov- 

 enly plan, and though possibly securing a good stand the 

 ground is so roughened, it can never make a beautiful pas- 

 ture. 



If the land is loose as some soils are, it will answer a 

 very good purpose to scratch up the surface well with a 

 sharp toothed harrow, and this is especially the case where 

 the roots of undergrowth exist to a great extent. 



AFTER TREATMENT. 



Of one fact, there cannot be a doubt, and in this lies the 

 whole secret of having remunerative pastures of Blue Grass, 



