CATALOGUE OF GRASS SEEDS. 
47 
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 stere¬ 
otyped 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, 
however, that those we have compiled will be found sufficiently comprehensive to meet all the contingen¬ 
cies that arise in ordinary farming. 
These mixtures, which we recommend only after careful study and consultation with the best authori¬ 
ties, 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 mixtures for alternate 
husbandry, mowing lands, and permanent pastures, to avoid the probability of disappoint merit 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 grasess 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 judicious mode of treatment afterwards 
is as necessary to continue their value. By proper stocking and top-dressing, very indifferent 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 t<> 
require many years to bring them again to their original value. This fact every 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 areliable 
top-dressing, which we can strongly recommend as being specially adapted for pastures of this character. 
BRECK’S SPECIAL MIXTURES FOR PERMANENT PASTURES. 
'ruble showing the proper quantities to Sow on an Acre of Light , Medium or Heavy Soils K for Permanent Pasture. 
Kind. 
No. 1. 
Light Soils. 
ivo. a. 
Medium 
Soils. 
No. :i. 
Heavy Soils. 
J¥o. i. 
For Orchards 
and shady 
places. 
Timothy .... 
Phleum pratense 
2 lbs. 
3 lbs. 
4 lbs. 
3 lbs. 
Red Top .... 
Agrostis vulgaris 
4 “ 
4 “ 
6 “ 
3 “ 
Orchard Grass 
Dactyl is glomerata . 
8 “ 
6 “ 
4 “ 
6 “ 
Meadow Fescue . 
Festuca pratensis 
2 “ 
2 “ 
I.V* 
— 
Hard Fescue 
Festuca dunuscula 
— 
I “ 
2 “ 
2 “ 
Tall Fescue 
Festuca elatior .... 
2 “ 
2 ** 
4 “ 
1 “ 
Blue Grass .... 
Poa pratensis .... 
4 “ 
4 “ 
2 •« 
5 “ 
6 “ 
Rough Stalked Meadow 
• Poa trivial is .... 
___ «( 
2 “ 
4 11 
Perennial Rye Grass . 
Loliurn perenne 
^ t i 
3 " 
3 “ 
— - 
Meadow Foxtail 
Alopecuris pratensis . 
I “ 
2 “ 
2 “ 
2 “ 
Crested Dogstail 
Cynosurus cristatus . 
2 “ 
I “ 
1 “ 
'4 “ 
Wood Meadow . 
Poa nemoralis .... 
I “ 
I “ 
— 
_ 
Yellow Oat Grass 
Arena favescens 
2 “ 
I “ 
— 
_ 
Sweet Vernal 
Anthoxanthum odor a turn . 
2 “ 
I “ 
— 
_ 
White Clover 
Trifolium repens 
4 “ 
4 “ 
4 14 
5 11 
Alsike Clover 
“ hybridum 
i “ 
i “ 
Perennial Red Clover 
“ pratense perenne 
2 “ 
3 “ 
3 “ 
3 “ 
39 lbs * 
41 lbs. 
41 lbs. 
40 lbs. 
ALTERNATE HUSBANDRY. 
MIXTURES FOR MOWING AND GRAZING LANDS. 
As the pioneers of grass mixtures in this country, we naturally have great pleasure in learning from 
day to day and season to season that our remarks under the heading, “ Mixtures for Permanent Pastures,'’ 
are fast becoming universally admitted facts; and we predict, with confidence, that the time is not far 
distant when the practice of sowing only one or t\vo varieties of grass seeds with the hope of obtaining 
the best results from it will pass, and the better and more profitable one of following nature’s plan be 
adopted. 
Many of our statements regarding Permanent Pasture Mixtures are equally pertinent when applied 
to Alternate Husbandry. It does not require much thought to convince any practical agriculturist that 
there is no basis to a system that employs the same quantity and kinds of grass seeds on all occasions, 
without regard to soil, duration of lay, or the condition in which the crop is to be used. All mixtures for 
Alternate Husbandry should include, say for one or two years’ lay, only annual and biennial or other sorts 
that attain full maturity within that period; for two or three years’ lay a greater quantity of seed is 
required, which should embrace a larger proportion of permanent sorts, so that the places of the dead 
annual kinds may be filled by the varieties that are of slower growth. 
If a mixture, principally for mowing, is intended to lay more than three or four years, especial care 
is necessary in selecting and adjusting the several varieties of grasses in proper proportion. A three or 
four years’ lay sown with grasses that are only of annual or biennial duration must be either very thin or 
See Special Offers on third page of cover. 
