CATALOGUE OF GRASS SEEDS. 
61 
Mixtures for Permanent Pastures • 
u One thing is certain : that good pasture land is the foundation of the riches of a farm —SINCLAIR. 
Tihe oft-repeated complaints of wornout and exhausted pastures, made to us by some of our best New 
England farmers, have long impressed us with the fact that there must be something radically wrong with 
the manner in which our pastures are formed and cared for. Some remedy for this state of matters is im¬ 
peratively necessary, and it seems to us that one most important line of improvement would be the sowing 
of a larger number of species of grasses in the laying out of these pastures. 
As we have already expressed as our opinion, farmers, as a rule, in preparing their mixtures of 
grasses to be used in the laying down of permanent pastures, confine themselves to too few varieties, thus 
failing to arrive at the most profitable results. The chief properties which give value to a grass are nutri¬ 
tive powers, produce, early growth, and reproductiveness (that is, the property of growing rapidly after 
being cropped). If one species of grass could be discovered that possesssed all these qualities in a superior 
degree to every other, there would be no necessity beyond that of botanical science for us to acquire the 
knowledge which enables us to distinguish the different species of grasses, the soils and subsoils best 
adapted to their growth, natural habits, and comparative value; but the results of all experiments have 
proven that a combination of all the merits and properties which give value to a grass is not to be found in 
any single species, or in fact in any two or three. In sowing a mixture or a number of different varieties 
we are but following nature, who can be always depended upon as the best teacher. This can be easily 
demonstrated by the careful examination of any old, rich, permanent pasture, on which will invariably be 
found fifteen or twenty species of grass or forage plants growing in great profusion. Where, however, it is 
left to nature to supply the necessary plants to make a rich and succulent pasturage, a great deal of valuable 
time is, of necessity, lost, or seven or eight years will elapse before the field will naturally assume the char¬ 
acter of a rich and profitable pasture, while by artificial means the same result can be brought about in one- 
fourth the time. 
In compiling any table of grasses and clovers to be used for permanent pasture purposes there are 
several important features to be taken into consideration. First, the proportion of plants which would be 
produced from the amount of each kind of seed sown should be determined, so that the undue predomi¬ 
nance of any particular variety may be avoided. We have given this point special consideration in prepar¬ 
ing our mixtures. A selection of grasses should be made that blossom at alternate months of the year, as 
it is a well-known fact that there is no month from April to September inclusive, in which some of the val¬ 
uable grasses do not attain their full perfection. 
By using a mixture comprising these species, It will be at 
once apparent that a rich and luxuriant growth will be secured 
throughout the entire season, which result cannot possibly be 
obtained if the stereotyped mixture usually recommended 
composes the sward. It would be almost impossible for us 
to give a series of tables which would comprehend all the 
variations of soils, altitudes and climates. We think, how¬ 
ever, that those we have compiled will be found sufficiently 
comprehensive to meet all the contingencies that arise in 
ordinary farming. 
These mixtures, which -we recommend only after careful 
study and consultation with the best authorities, are of little 
or no value unless the seeds composing them are absolutely 
pure and true to name. We, therefore, especially request 
those who desire to obtain the best results from their mix¬ 
tures for alternate husbandry, mowing lands, and permanent 
pastures, to avoid the probability of disappointment which 
would naturally attend the placing of orders with parties who 
have never given any degree of attention to this most important 
subject , and buy from us direct (or authorized agents), 
who are the first in this country to make a specialty of this 
branch of the seed business. We doubt if a full stock of all 
the grasses which form the components of our mixture could 
be found anywhere in the United States outside of our own 
establishment, and know they cannot be obtained in the same 
quantities and of equal quality. 
In conclusion, we would say, that although pastures be 
formed in the best manner as recommended by us, with a 
combination of MANY different species of grasses, yet a judi¬ 
cious mode of treatment afterwards is as necessary to continue 
their value: By proper stocking and top-dressing, very indif¬ 
ferent pastures may be brought to a state of great fertility; but, on the contrary, the richest pastures by neglect of 
proper stocking, top-dressing, or by the too frequent repetition of hay crops, will become so unprofitable as to require 
many years to bring them again to their original value.. This fact everv practical farmer is well aware of, and after 
the proper mode of sowing and stocking has been determined on, a suitable top-dressing should be found. Under the 
head of Fertilizers, in another part of this Catalogue, will be found a reliable top-dressing, which we can strongly recom¬ 
mend as being specially adapted for pastures of this character. 
See Special Offers on third page of cover. 
