Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-07-14
Farmers Column.
From the New England Farmer.
Sowing GrnSs Seed.

IsdSt BuWutt tU-
quired through the N. E. Farmer, wha,
should be done with land on which grass
seed failed to come up in the spring
Immediately afterwa rds, lreceived let
ter from F. Brewer, ofSpringield. Mass,
kindly ans wering the question by giving
she results OF his own experience in The
case.
And here I will ackno wledec my ob.
legation TO him for his early reply; en-.
abling me 10 try the experiment: this
year, 90 tina, can now give the result,
for the consideration of o,hrr'. But
FIRST will ,ran.cribe a portion Of his let
ter. believing i, belongs to the public as
well as my self. and therefore ,ha, he will
excuse me for the liberty | take.
SAYS he: "'rhe month vi August is
decidedly the most favorable time in The
year for stocking land 10 grass seed
first, you are more sure ola perfect catch
OF the seed, than when sown with spring
grain. aud your crop of grass will be free
from the stubble which remains, and is
unavoidably gathered in the first crop OF
hay succeeding the first process. IL al
90 furnishes an opportunity Of apply ing
shose manurps, or s'imulants, for sue
cession of the hay crop; and. and again
because you are secured against any loes
OF expenses by the crop OF turnips. and
these | consider important reasons; and
l venture TO recommend TO you. that you
pillow your land as soon as practicable.
have ON our compost heap. 100 TO $50
bushels OF leached ashes. or 100 lbs. sit-
ted guano per acre, and have it spread
evenly. and well narrowed in; mix one
10. Of ,urnip seed with sufficient por.
sion of grass seed TO 60 over the piece
one way, SOW the remainder Of the grass
seed in the opposite direction. then with
| a light roller or with brush, cover The
seed. and | will warran, you succrss."
The above was received the 10Th Of
August. and pursuant to the recommen
danons contained therein. | had ! acres
pl"wed the 18th. on which we applied
81 cords Of barn-yard manure ,ha. had
lain in heap all summer. narrowed i.
thoroughly. and the 18Th, | sowed half
a bushel Of herdsgrass seed. half BUSH
Fl OF red-,op, = lbs. of clover. and l.!
los. Of ,urnip seed and rolled il in. A
crop Of barley had been taken from the
ground, and the seed that sheIled IN har.
ves,ing. came up and produced good
swa,h. ...
All the seed came well. and | found
the turnips much too thick. Early in
October we commenced thinning them.
and pulled more than one half of the
giants. which gave la.ge quantity of
fodder for our cows. think the fodder
was worth more than the cost of thlni ing
so have made no accoun, of either
The weather being favorable, | thought
Il best 10 leave the ,urnips in the ground
AZ late as il would ans wer. so we didn't
commence harvesting on this piece. un.,
The 20ih Of November. We took off
l42 bushels, or l25 bushels to an acre.
The turnips were moi large, from want
IT sufficient time 20 grow in, bu, they
were very good. I he marke, price here
rs rs CTS per bushel. 50 the accoun, stands
| ,hus:
Labor-plowing. sowing and harvest
ing, $1,000. Manure. $3.50. Seed.
| s3.l2. Whole, S3l.62
l42 bushels lurnips, a: rs cts. $3.50.
Leaving a nett profit of 3.S7.
RESIDES having fair prospect of good
crop Of grass next year. whle ON part
Of the same field which was not plowed.
! scarcely any grass is 10 DO seen. On
that | intend TO SOW grass seed next
spring-a plan recommended by some
people.
The result of this experiment. s entire
ly satisfaciory 10 me. and confidential
y recommend others to try i; whenever
their grass falls in the spring; and my o.
pinion Is that il would bs better noI 20
SOW II with grain, for there 10 always, on
dry land especially. an uncertainty of
getting catch Of grass seed. IL l should
Try il again. however. and intend to. 1
should not SOW more than seven or eigh,
ounces Of surnip seed on an acre.
VIII some one who knows. give me
the analy sis Of rn,a bagas. parsnips. su.
gar beets, and msngle wurizel. or The
value of each compared with hay!
l.. VARNEY.
Providence, Il. l.. Dec. FL, 1852.