58 
THE GRASS QUESTION. 
Clover, being a native of Asia. It cannot be doubted, 
there yet remain otiiers to be brought into cultivation. 
Who shall do it ? 
Now as to compounded mixtures of grass seeds, it 
has been frequently' stated that seedsmen advocate 
mixed grasses for lawn and pasturage that they may 
have an opportunity to run up the price. This is a mis- 
take, for no pasture grass mixture is so costly as the 
same measure of pure Blue grass, the back log of all 
good grazing mixture. Let it be understood the object 
of mixhig varieties of grass seeds is manifold; for in- 
stance, to insure a more numerous stand of plants for 
some varieties may germinate better than others; then 
again that some varieties be succulent and bright when 
others are dingy, and for pasturage tliere is a very im- 
portant consideration. Another good reason is that soils 
var}'- so much and seasons vary so much, that it is best 
in seeding down a pasturage to diversify the risks rather 
than as it were to curry all the eggs in one basket. 
The deliberate mixing of distinct varieties of Vege- 
table or Flower Seeds is looked upon by all men as a 
fraud of the worst kind, but the intelligent mixing of 
distinct varieties of Gr.\ss Skeds is an art which should 
be encouraged, for, properly done, it is in the interest 
of agriculture's most important crop — green pasturage 
and hay. 
Upon the lengtli of time which it is contemplated to 
allow the pasturage to stand depends, to a large extent, 
the varieties of Grass seeds to mix, as for example, Tim- 
othy, Italian Rye grass, Cocksfoot, White and Alsike 
Clover are all very quick to develop and suitable for a 
two or three years' shift, while for a longer tern) should 
be added Blue grass, Red Top, Foxtail, Tall Fescue, 
Perennial Rye, Lucerne and Red Clover. 
While the limestone soils of Kentucky and Tennessee 
will sustain in full vigor a pure blue grass pasturage 
for a life time, few soils in other localities will be found 
equal to tlie task. 
On soils not suited to blue grass alone" good tempo- 
rary pasturage of two to five years' duration can be ob- 
tained with a careful selection of varieties and satisfac- 
tory results realized under a well-considered system of 
rotation. 
When one departs from the usual course of sowing 
Timothy with Winter grain to be followed with Clover 
in the Spring it is not a cheap matter to lay down a 
perfect pasture, hay field or lawn, for the preparation 
of the land is expensive and a combination of varieties 
generally more costly than the simple varieties of Tim- 
othy and Clover. 
In laying down a pasture field it is best to do it in 
the Autumn, if conditions of moisture will permit, for 
the reason that time is then less jjtrecious, but Spring 
seeding, when the land is thoroughly prepared, is quite 
as effective. 
All prescriptions for grass seed mixtures, however, 
are little more than generalities, for no one can compile 
a table or series of tables showing the varieties posi- 
tively ada})ted to different localities, for soils even on 
adjoining fields frequently'- vary so much as to require 
an entire change in the varieties and proportions. How 
much more diflScult to prescribe for unknown soils, 
some perhaps a thousand miles away. 
The geological constitution, rainfall, drainage, alti- 
tude and objects sought, whether for hay or grazing, all 
need to be studied. The best guide is the experience 
of others in one's location, but even that is often mis- 
leading, for we have grown grand crops of Timothy and 
Clover in a section of a Sovithern State, Avhere the farm- 
ers seldom saved any hay, trusting -almost entirely to 
corn fodder — of course there were no barnyards worthy 
of the name in that locality. 
As an example, for ordinary soils a pasturage mix- 
ture might consist of 40 pounds to the acre of 
Timothy, Orchard, Blue grass, Red Top, Perennial 
Rye grass, and Red Clover. Such a combination would 
be pretty certain to effect a stand, and when once 
established would comprehend some one variety _ in 
luxuriant growth throughout the extent of the growing 
season. 
Of course in special locations as on lowlands or 
mountain sides or on special soils as sands, gravels, 
clays, loams, some of the named sorts might with ad- 
vantage be omitted and others added. Timothy, for 
example, a short-lived hay grass, does best on well- 
drained land and in northern latitudes. Red Top, a 
longer-lived sort, does better on moist land, even sus- 
taining long-continued overflow. Orchard Grass, on the 
other hand, a good, all-around sort, will giow on dry, 
sandy loam; fairly well on poor clay and better on rich 
bottoms, so it be not overflowed, and it even endures 
the shade of trees. 
Blue grass doing best on limestone soils is not a good 
hay producer, as it is a light cropper, difficult to cut 
and harder to cure, but it is eminently a pastiu-age and 
lawn grass. It is an easy grower, flourishing for a 
limited time on gravels, bottoms and clays, while on 
limestone soils grazing fields have been known to re- 
main in perfection for sixty years. It will not stand 
severe droughts but resists any amount of frost while 
continued pasturage only makes it better. 
Thin seeding of grass is a most serious mistake, as a 
poor stand of grass only leaves room for weeds to 
occupy the space. Consequently we advise a very lib- 
eral application of seed, for under the best conditions, 
as respects preparation of land, distribution of seed 
and covering, a large portion of the seed will get too 
deeply covered over to vegetate. 
Not more than one farmer in a hundred by his field 
practice shows any indication that he realizes the neces- 
sity of shallow covering of grass seeds, for they gener- 
ally put on a harrow and cover to a depth of 1 to 2i 
inches, delicate seeds not one-thirtieth of an inch in 
diameter. Certainly the greater part never shows a 
green blade, for farmers seldom stop to consider the 
delicate nature of the seeds they commit to rough, 
cloddy earth. One who sets himself to estimate the 
number of seeds in a pound will soon come to a realiza- 
tion of the necessity for a perfect seed bed, for he will 
find the seeds to number in a pound of Tall Fescue 
250,000, Red Clover 280,000, Orchard Grass 600,000, 
Timothy 1,250,000, Blue Grass 2,375,000, Rough Meadow 
3,000,000, and Red Top 8,000,000. Can it be expected 
that over 10 per cent, of the seeds ever make a plant, 
considering the rough tillage and careless sowing of 
tlie ordinary farmer? 
If yon want varieties NOT kept by your merchant he can get them for you or you can write to us. 
