18 
ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
its adaptation to all crops, but it is only necessary, in this connection, to consider it 
application to grass and grass lands. 
,, Jhi s system means, when applied to the culture of grass land, the protection o 
the different species of valuable grasses which are indigenous to the soil. By culti 
vatmg the surface of the soil and planting a mixture of the different species of th 
grasses results can be secured which cannot be obtained by the plow or in the ordinar 
method of cultivating grass land. It means, also, the formation of a strong sward 
long-continued use of the land in the production of grass crops growing from fifteei 
to twenty-five varieties and 1,000 plants to one square foot of surface. Again i 
means the propagation in the soil of those varieties of grasses that will afford t< 
grazing stock sweet, succulent food in abundance through the entire season, a combi 
nation of different species that flower about the same period, that may be cut am 
converted into hay for winter food for all classes of stock that feed upon grass eithe: 
green or in a cured condition. The hay from such a combination is much superior 
and relished better by stock than that which is obtained from but one or two kinds 
It means the production and preservation of valuable species of grasses which an 
adapted to the various conditions of the soil, (when properly drained), producim 
summer food at the rate of three-fourths of an acre of land to one head of stock. I\ 
means the extermination of all worthless, noxious weeds found growing among th( 
glasses in our meadows and pastures, being replaced by some of the very valuabh 
\aneties of useful plants adapted to the various soils. It means the production ol 
two and a half to three tons of hay from each acre of our meadow lands. But this 
implies a radical change in the management and cultivation of our very valuabk 
wTs? landS m YanOUS sections of the United States, especially throughout the North- 
• system is very simple, when applied so the culture of grass lands. It consists 
m thoroughly cultivating the surface of the soil to the depth (when it has a smooth 
surface) of about three-fourths of an inch to one inch for the seed-bed. Sow a com¬ 
bination or mixture of grass seeds composed of those varieties which are valuable 
either for a pasture, or for meadow use, then lightly harrow and roll with a heavy 
roller. A combination of seed for meadow should be selected with much care so as 
to combine those varieties which flower about the same time; this will produce the 
finest quality of hay for winter feed. The selection must be made in view also 
of the various soils (which are many in the Northwest), constituting our grass lands, 
x or pastuie use. the selection of the varieties which do not flower at the same time 
and tin ow out undershoots vvhen the herbage is cropped off by the grazing stock, is 
veiy desnable, so as to obtain those which will produce sweet, succulent herbage 
throughout the entire grazing season. 
I lie amount of combined grass seeds to be sown per acre is a very important con¬ 
sideration in the improvement of grass and grass land. We sow, when mixed, from 
thirty to forty pounds per acre, which will soon cause the exit of all noxious weeds 
from the sward, even the rag-weed. I have entirely destroyed the latter by this 
method of culture and seeding. 
Seeding time is also an important consideration in the work to be accomplished. 
We sow the seeds of grasses at various seasons of the year. Commencing early in the 
spiing, we sow until about the 10th of June wdien we are working the sod. Resume 
cultivation as soon as the grass is mown after the wheat harvest; but we do not sow 
any seed until about the last week in August; continue to sow till the 10th of October, 
and auso continue the work of cultivating the soil until the seed will not germinate or 
the ground is closed by the frost of winter. 
This has been our method while engaged in the supervision of field work, and 
success tolknved our efforts, as very many fields of grass land will demonstrate in this 
section of the State. I he area of the plow land should not be passed without a 
woid of caution, especially if the soil is composed of alluvial or vegetable mold, as it 
is moie desnable to use it for the production of a hay crop until the sod becomes firm 
by the interlacing of the ramifying roots; then it could be stocked with perfect secur- 
ffy* -the treading of stock is injurious to the growth of the young grass plants, as is 
also the poaching throughout the sward. ^ r > 
Another matter of no small significance in this system is that of becoming fami¬ 
liar with the habits and physical construction of the various species of grasses that 
grow m different locations, so as to be able to distinguish them with ease and cer¬ 
tainty ; and also to separate the individual grasses that belong in one natural genius, 
oi family ; then we are qualified to decide whether they are of any agricultural value, 
oi aie of sufficient value to warrant their cultivation; for if they usurp the place of 
moie valuable kinds, their extermination is desirable. Close observation will soon 
determine tins, as a knowledge of the characters and appearance of different kinds 
will detect or discover them when growing on or around the farm. It is well, also, to 
note the avidity with which the stock on the farm feed upon different grasses; but 
this wi 1 be noticed more particularly hereafter. 
A word, now, in relation to the management of old meadow land. When the 
