50 PETER HENDERSON & CO. -FARM SEEDS. 



FOR 



HAY AND FOR PERMANENT PASTURES. 



In view of the wide-spread interest being taken at this time in this most important subject, we have made an 

 extract from our new farm book, "How the Farm Pays," as being certain to prove of great interest and value. It will be 

 seen that Mr. Crozier's views as to the use of varieties are radically different from the usually accepted practice. But as 

 he speaks from the standpoint of a man who is well known for the last thirty years to have ever made his "Farm Pay," his 

 words are entitled to weight. In England this subject of grasses is far better understood than with us, experimental 

 grounds having long been devoted to finding out what varieties are best adapted for the different soils. In our larger area, 

 and wider variation of soil and climate, the task in this country is much more difficult; so that with the best endeavors 

 it will take years before we can hope to obtain that certainty of knowledge on the subject that our transatlantic 

 neighbors enjoy. — Mr. Crozier says : 



"Heretofore the base grass, as it may be called, for the hay crop in our northern States, has been Timothy, but 

 experiments, that have been carried on for a period of twenty years, have led me to believe that 



is much better fitted to lie the leading kind in the mixture, whether for pasture or for hay, whether used alone or 

 otherwise, and I place it far in advance not only of Timothy, but of any other grass we have thus far in cultivation. Any one 

 acquainted with the growth of roots will see at a glance, by the illustration, that it is a plant better fitted for permanency 

 than any of the other varieties of grasses mentioned in this work. In addition to that, it has a merit which I consider 

 to be far above all the rest. This is the early date at which it is in a condition to be cut for hay. When sown alone 

 or in mixtures it is found that it can be cut between two aud three weeks before Timothy is ready. The present season 

 (1883) my whole crop was cut and in the barns by the 20th of June, at least 20 days before other farmers in this vicinity 

 had begun to cut their Timothy. The advantage of its earliness is not only that it gives three weeks longer for the aftermath 

 to grow, but another reason of more importance is, that at this date, the White Ox Eye Daisy and other troublesome weeds 

 are not yet in condition to seed, which, should any of them happen to be in the fields, are destroyed by being cut 

 before they have ripened their seeds. The vast importance of this means of checking the White Daisy will be seen when 

 it is known that tens of thousands of acres have been given up to the possession of that useless weed. It is in full seed 

 at the time that Timothy hay is cut, and its seed retains vitality for years. When this weed is mixed with the hay the mischief 

 done is not only for the succeeding year, but it may be for half a dozen years after, as the seed, if plowed down into 

 the ground, will remain for years and will germinate when brought to the surface again by subsequent plowing. So, 

 then, we see that if we are able to use Orchard Grass, which is not only equally as good, but better in many respects 

 than Timothy, having in addition the valuable quality of being in fit condition to cut at a season before the devastating 

 White Daisy is in seed, we have accomplished something at which the farming community may well rejoice. There is 

 an unfortunate matter connected, with the culture of this grass, however, which we shall endeavor as far as possible to set 

 right. It is universally known as Orchard Grass, giving the impression to those unacquainted with it that it is only 

 fitted for growing in the orchard, or under partial shade. Although no other grass will do better under such circumstances, 

 yet like all other strong growing grasses it will of course produce a heavier crop if exposed to the bright and open 

 sunshine. I have never in my practice used Orchard Grass without the admixture of Clover or other grasses, as I have 

 always been a believer in the great importance of having a variety of grasses, either for hay or pasture. It is my rule 

 to include never less than five and sometimes as many as ten varieties of grasses, together with a due proportion of 

 Clover. The mixture which I sow after Wheat in the fall or spring is composed of Orchard Grass, Meadow Foxtail, Sheep 

 Fescue, R. I. Bent, Hard Fescue, Sweet Scented Vernal, Mpadow Fescue, English Eye Grass, Italian Bye Grass, and Bed 

 Top, one-half of the bulk in Orchard Grass, while the other half is made up of the other grasses named. I vary the 

 quantity in these mixtures according to the requirements of the soil, the quantity needed for average land being, per 

 acre, about 5' 2 bushels or 75 lbs. For rich heavy land from one-quarter to one-third less. This is my favorite mixture 

 for either haying lands or pasture, whether sown in the fall or spring, to which is added — but sown in the spring always, 

 as it is rather tender if sown in the fall in this latitude — 10 lbs. of Red or Mammoth Clover, which is also known under 

 the different names of Pea Vine Clover and Broad Leaved Clover. One reason why it should always be sown separately 

 is, that its great weight makes it difficult to keep it properly mixed with the Orchard Grass and other grasses. It is therefore 

 better to sow it alone in the usual way over the grass seed, brush harrowing after sowing and then rolling. The mixture 

 as here given is much more expensive than that commonly used for seeding down, either for hay or pasture, the first 

 cost being four or five times as much as for the ordinary mixture. Thus far I have used the best grade of seed, costing 

 from $20 to $25 per acre, but I am so well satisfied of its superiority, that if it cost me one-third more I should still use 

 it, because it must be remembered that this investment is not for one year only, but if the land is properly prepared 

 there is no reason why permanent haying land cannot be kept in good condition for twenty years, producing annually 

 one-third more weight than the mixture in common use. The quantity I recommend is probably double as much as is 

 usually sown per acre, but as in quality, so in quantity. I consider that the importance of thick seeding cannot be 

 overestimated. Not only does it keep down the weeds, but what is of even greater importance, we get a thicker covering 

 of the same surface, so that in case of severe droughts instead of the sun beating down on the bare soil, it is intercepted, 

 and the ground is shaded by the thickly growing plants. It paid me to use this mixture while I was renting land at 

 $10.00 per acre, even on a five years' lease." 



To the foregoing experience of Mr. Crozier we have only to add that we can well attest the value of his opinion 

 in this matter, for we saw the hay field which he cut on the 9th of June, 1883, and 30 days later (July 10th) it was 

 then one foot in height, while the grass lands on all sides of it, where the ordinary Timothy and Clover Mixture had 

 been used, were only being harvested, and the aftermath, let the weather prove what it might, would probably never be 

 in equally as good condition. Our new farm book, "How the Farm Pays," from which the above extract was taken, was 

 only issued by us in October, 1884, but since its publication we have received so many inquiries in our capacity as seed 

 dealers, for seed of this mixture, that we have prepared the combination of grasses which Mr. Crozier advocates, in the 

 proportion as used by him, which we designate as 



^Henderson's Special Grass Mixture for Hay and Permanent Pastures, *► 



which we can furnish in any quantity, at the price given on next page. To those who desire to lay down large areas, we 

 shall be prepared to make special prices. 



The illustration that we show on the next page is not a fancy sketch, but actually shows the difference in growth 

 (on June 8th, 1883) between a field of Timothy and Clover, and Henderson's Special Grass Mixture that we recommend. 



