Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-06-01
MEADOWS AND SAVING GRASS SEED


! to the Farmers Register.
Land for meadow ought to be rich and moist;
at any rate rc,cntivc OF moisture until The mid
of June. Tho soil must be ploughed and har
wed until finely divided. The aid Of roller
III in many eases, greatly facilitate TIL. operation.
pt il ough, to be complete, and the land made As
tvel as possible, In order to iisliea the labor OF
DE- mower. and enable him to get the whole crop
dgrass. The depth Of the l,r>t poughing should
be regulated by the depth Of The fertile soil. Deep
stirring of the earth is necessary tor the deeper
il be broken the moro moisture Il viii absorb, and
the more will give thu root, oi the gra,, All
the roots, trash and t,ssocks must be carried ut
hey are the nurseries OF weeds, aud viii be Ia other
respects INJURIOUS.
The sccl ought TO be sown after the last her-
owing and before any rain has fallen. \ blshcl
Il herds, and one gallon Of timothy seed or rather
ess, will be sufficient per acre, il sown in Scptem
Dor, or before the middle Of October. Ii sown in
the spring or summer, half bushcl more Of herds
ought to be added But there is no danger of sow
ing too m,ny seed and SHOULD never stop under
iwo bushels, provided the seed Wcfe not too costly.
Tlu'gh, what is a little expense, compared 10
thea luxuriint crop, which shall entirely possess
the ground, the exclusion OF every other growth
Grass when sovn too THE, will (ana only on rich
landl thin itself exactly 20 that point which insnrcs
6ncncss and the greatest production Of which the
soil and climate are capable. Many grass growers
have labored under strange delusion ON this sub
,eei. |. was the practice with some (of my
auaintancc) 10 SOW only one peck on an acre.
The consequence was, that they hal to lose ono
year, waiting for the grass TO spread, and supply
the sti1ted seeding cutting the first year a raah
crop OF weeds, mixcd 50 sporingly with hay, ta,
the produce was bat OF little value cxccp, horse
bedding The cutting Of such a crop is heavier
work than OF good hay. And experience proves,
tina, thinly sown meadows will always remain foul,
aud give inferior crops.
The .ocds having been thoroughly mixed to-
ge,hcr with the hand, then sown in dry state,
by the hand also, after the manner of small grain
the ground having been first marked or into six
feet lads by using hoo or rake handle. Horses
ought not TO go Oh the ground thus prepared and
ii the lines laid OF, rs recommended, be not math
enatcally straight, they will sufficiently guide the
seedsman, who ought to follow ast behind the op-
orator. and while his mark is fresh. Tins viii in.
sure regularity. The sewers hand ough, to be
held low, and particularly if there be any wind.
1t is better 70 SOW the seed dry because then they
separate easily, and fall more regularly. BEING
white they ought 10 give the ground an evenly
powdered appearance, which is the only sure proof
Of good sowing, excepting always the appearance
Of the grass itsclf-and sighted spots should be re-
sown by both of these induces. Herds grass seed
are so small and gh', that they arc very APP, be
taken up and thrown about and deposited in sunken
places, if not carried OF by the winds To prevent
this, the roller should follow the scotsman as soon
US possible. In addition to this benefit, it beauti-
fully levels AMI smooths such finely prepared
ground, and leaves it, tina, the grass knife passes
over it without obstruction or Jar.
How interesting to the eve Of the husbandman
is such plot of land thickly and evenly covered
with rich coat of grass, in full bloom Then is
the time to apply the knife, and handle the fork
An experienced and dcxterous cutter will be cna-
blcd to shear it smoothly and evenly, and with as
much apparent ease as the city barber wieds the
instrument Of his vocation.
The second crop, as already suggested, does not
rise high enough in this climate to be cut. But il
affords the best Of grazing. In its growth it steals
along, alternately freshened up by showers, dews
and cool nights and parched and withercd by the
burning sun Of summer, until released from this
doubtful state Of existence, by the regular and
|seenial temperature Of September. Not till then
does assume its gay verdurc, and give promise OF
future vigor and value. certain union of heat
and moisture is necessary to every sort of vegeta-
ton, and every cline characterized by its peculiar
productions. In the temperate zone, We regard
airing as the flood, and winter as the ebb-tide Of
xSeetabIe life. Summer and autumn arc the sea-
ep.s Of their vigor and maturity. But it is both in
6osng and Instructive to note tho effect produced
~ he removal Of plants from one latitude to
Z o1hcr. wifhin our zone. Some Of the artificial
1900. - called, which preserve their verdure, in
northerp sGntos, and even beyond our noun
31S -. drrine d 1hate summer, die and are with
251l Is - xmy ground, BY the boat Of the sun in
~ lewef and Sssfhesn country. TO them autumn
= second day Of rcsurrection. Hence they yield