Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-05-25
From the N. England Farmer

SOWING GRASS SEEDS IN THE FALL
Mr.. Editor--In Your valuable paper ON the
sowing Of grass seeds, published in the Farmer
Of the 18th inst. you are pleased to refer to an
article. written in February. 1923 wherein the
sowing OF grass is alluded 10 NOT being, howe
yer, the main subject of the article, I request
that you will allow me a further, and more fu
explanation, Oh this very important operation
in agriculture. The sowing OF grass seed in
spring, may take place, either with, on with.
out grain If they are sown with grais, the
young grass will suffer greatly h, the iulerfer
ence Of the roots, and Of the straw Of the grain,
the roots will rob il of a great portion Of Is
nuirment, and the straw will deprive il in a
great measure, Of the benefits of the ai,nns.
phere, air, sun. dews. and rains. Grain and
grass thus striving together, are drawn up fast
er aud simmer, 'han they would, If sown sepa.
rate and alone; this forced growth Injuries Inc
roots of the grass, which at the time that the
grain is moved is left exposed, weak, and TX
hausted, to the ardent heat of the sun, deprived
on n sudden of the shade, which before was for
ced on il by the gram. tpon new lands, Of
such as are richly manured these Injuries may
not, perhaps, in common years, prove desiruc.
tive, but upon our old fields, the chance is truly
deplorable one, and has gotto he more and
more SO, for ten OF twelve years past.
Should the farmer prefer 20 SOW his grass
seeds alone, and without grain, then a crop If
weeds fyarious kinds, will Start up, more or
less overpowering, accordIe TO the state OF
the land the careful farmer will NOV them,
make them and carry them into his barn, and
console himself with the idea that IS better than
nothing although lhe growth Of these weeds
ezhausis the land, and so Tar Injuries the young
grass, yet auless tey should be- very abundant
and hicit, the grass viii have . better chance
than W, N sown vii grain. which OF all meth
DDS, am apt 10 consider 10 he The worst in this
climate, especially if sown with oats, which of
all grains used with US for that purpose. are the
most en- haustine and overpowering. II is eyi'
dent that in The contest between grain and
grass, when sown together, although grain is
alw avs triumphant il the main point which is
life, vet the quality Of the prodsce suffers
greatly the grain are distracted by those OF
the grass, and the soil being more or less cover
ed and clothed by the grass, the roots of the
grain are deprived oil the fulness ofthe benefit
OF air, and heat, dews, and rains, which they
would otherwise have enjoyed. The result is,
that out oftweniy samples Of harley thus rais-
ed, nineteen, expect, upon an average, are
sighted by brewers. looking more like hull
than grain, and the price which ought not TO
be less than one dollar per bUshel 10 afford a
fair emolumeni TO the farmer, has ranged for
years past at thirty per cent, or more, under
thar mark.
We may conclude, therefore, from the expo
stion OF these facts. If correctly stated that the
result Of sowing grain and grass is 10 inJure
both crops, and very often 10 loose the grass
entirely Such loss and vexation may be avoi.
ded by sowing the gram alone, early IN the
spring with such manure as has been allote d
for the field and as soon as possible in August,
after the crop OF grain has been housed, TO
plough the stubbIe in, turning good furrow,
that the siubbe may have chance OF moul.
derins away, which the showers usually taking
ulace about hat fine. and the heat of the wea-
Their, will generally bring about in the course OF
70 or Is days before Inc end OF August the
field should be cross ploughed, the grass seeds
sown on the firrow. narrowed. and rolled Ii
is of much importance in this part OF the pro-
cess 10 avoid any delay, and therefore it is
quite needful to put in the grass seeds even II
the weather should happen TO be dry at the
time, they will lay safe in the ground, and be
ready 10 improve the benefit Of the first show
ers. when the grass will soon make its appear
an &c, 'and generally good progress before the
winter sets in If the winter should prove ia
vorable, nothing further is wanted to secure a
good aud lasting field OF grass, than TO draw
he roller over il ia the spring, as soon as the
fros, gets ori OF the ground this will settle ~