9 
ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
round for years. I have some of these weeds in one of my fields, and have been 
^ing to subdue them for the past twelve years, and in spite of all I can do they 
ain on me. They will grow up after the corn is laid by or even after harvest, 
nd though they only attain a height of six or eight inches, the seed matures and in- 
reases a hundred fold. I assure my brother farmer that when this weed comes on 
is farm it comes to stay. Another nuisance which is slowly spreading is the rasp- 
erry. We all want raspberries and blackberries for table use, though I would rather 
o without them all my life than have them growing all along my hedges, as they will 
o if left alone to gradually spread into the fields and roads. Birds like the berries, 
nd will scatter the seed for you without money and without price. 
I have said more on this w r eed subject than I intended, but not half as much as 
would like to say if my warning would be a benefit to the farmers of this rich and 
eautiful country. 
SEEDING FOE GEASS; THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. 
BY O. S. COHOON, OF BELVIDERE, ILL. 
Allow me to remark, as I have said many times before, that the old adage (handed 
own from time immemorial) is a true one which says that u the man who made two 
lades of grass grow in the place of one, is a benefactor to his race.” 
Seeding for grass; the best way to do it.—The court of inquiry has asked me, as 
ne of its witnesses, to answer this question. At first thought the casual observer of 
gricultural science or one of those of the farming persuasion who did not think that 
griculture had any science connected therewith, would say that there could be but 
ttle said upon this subject. If the question had been raised in this manner : “Seed- 
ig to grass for hay,” the answer might have been somewhat limited; or it could 
ave been answnred in this way : “ The best way to do it ” is to do it well. When we 
nlarge upon this subject, that answer will be the keynote to all of our answers. 
Do it good—do it well,—decently and in order. Sometimes we think we can tell 
'hat we don’t believe or how not to do, more easily than what we do believe and how 
i do. The mistakes of my life are many, and I see them more and more ; and they 
ave been quite as many in seeding for grass as in any other part of my farming prac- 
ice. While Webster’s Unabridged and the botanists say that grass is an herbage, in- 
luding wheat, oats, barley, rye, timothy, etc., but does not include clover. And my 
Id Walker’s dictionary says that grass is the common herbage of the field, on which 
attle feed,—which will include clover. And thus this question will be so large that 
p tell you the best way to seed for grass will be quite improbable. And furthermore, 
3show you that this is notone-half the size of this question, I will read you a word 
f what George Vasey, botanist of the Agricultural Bureau, reports to the Commis- 
ioner of Agriculture in the year 1880 : 
“ Sir :—In continuation of our report on the native and naturalized grasses, we 
resent figures and descriptions of twenty-five species which have more or less value 
1 agriculture. 
“ The object of these articles is to call the attention of farmers and agriculturists 
2 the great variety of grasses existing, and by means of minute description and fig- 
res, to enable them to recognize such species as may come under their observation, 
'he system of grass culture in this country is undoubtedly capable of improvement, 
ot only in the adaptation of the proper species to different climates and soils, but in 
tie advantages to be gained by a more diversified use of several in the same field.” 
I would here state that the same botanist in 1879 reported twenty-five other spe- 
ies of grasses, and for all I know may keep on for years to come. 
Now as grass includes an indifferent, indefinite, countless number, I shall confine 
lyself mostly to three or four kinds that 1 am most familiar with. First, then, tim- 
thy, or herds’-grass, or in Dutch, phleum prutense , is one of the most common, perfect 
nd hardy grasses known. For hay it has no superior, for grass and pastures it has 
o equal; to mow, rake, load with a loader, unload with a hay-fork, and for ease of 
uring. both in the barn and out of doors, it is simply superb. With well-defined 
rinciples in seeding for grass, it is very sure of a catch. 
As I have said before, the mistakes of my life have been many, both in seeding 
or grass and many other things, and since I see them more and more, I have learned 
y some costly experience to very cautious and try to do my work well—extremely 
/ell in seeding for grass. 
First, then, the plain, simple, unvarnished fact is : The ground must be well pre- 
ared—be made in fine condition. This means much: Well plowed, well pulver- 
sed, well harrowed, well scrubbed. Now this word we have invented, as we do not 
nd it in Webster’s Unabridged. But it has suited us a little better than the word 
scrape.” Now we have our land in fine condition for seeding. No! One thing 
lore we want you to have. Be sure of this if possible : Good, nice, dry weather, early 
