SOWING GRASS SEEDS. 91 



April is properly regarded as a very safe and favourable 

 month in which to sow, but if the seed-bed is ready, and the land 

 in working order by the middle of March, there need be no 

 scruple as to putting in the seed. And should there happen to 

 be signs of approaching rain, it is worth any reasonable effort to 

 get the sowing done and the land rolled down before a change 

 of weather can put a stop to operations. Sowing before is better 

 than immediately after a shower, even supposing the land can 

 be worked soon after rainfall, which may or may not be the case. 

 The seeds sown before rain gradually absorb moisture from soil 

 and dew until wet weather comes, and then the plants spring up 

 with great rapidity. 



To sow later than the end of May is most hazardous. Even 

 the middle of May will often be too late, especially upon heavy 

 soils, which in a dry season are also liable to crack, to the injury 

 of the grasses. 



Now comes the question as to sowing alone or upon a corn 

 crop. The answer depends partly on the object in view, and 

 partly on the length of the purse. Apart from the money con- 

 sideration, each method has its advocates, and undoubtedly there 

 are sound reasons to be urged in favour of either practice. 



If a first-class pasture or an ornamental park sward be 

 wanted on the earliest day it can be obtained, and the cost 

 need not be thought of, the sowing of grasses alone will, in the 

 majority of seasons, produce the most satisfactory pasture in 

 the shortest possible time. Opportunity is thus afforded of early 

 and frequent mowing, which tends to strengthen the young grass. 

 A still more valuable service is rendered by the scythe in pre- 

 venting weeds from seeding, and these are certain to be quite 

 troublesome enough without that. On the other hand, in an 

 extremely dry summer, the shelter of a light corn crop will prove 

 of great value to the young grass plant. It may even result in 

 an actual gain of time. Without its aid there is a possibility that 

 the grasses may stand still or completely fade away. An esta- 

 blished pasture when burned brown by the sun speedily recovers 



