Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-05-08
Price Two Cents
GBe 9ailpg sgg.
MoNDAY. MAY 8, 1ss4.
Seeding Land 20 Grnss.

The seeding of land to grass is animportant
operation to the New England farmer, with
whom hay and pasturage forms a leading OBJ
iect. The practice Of sowing grass seed by
itself in the latter part Of summer or first OF
autumn, is a very good one, and its adoption
is becoming general; but with spring grams II
is still common to lay down the land to grass.
There is much difference in the different kinds
of grain, in regard to the effect they have on
grass sown with them-that is, grass takes
much better with some than with others. Oats
especially on light land, are the most unfa-
vorabe crop to the growth of grass. This is
abundantly proved by observation, although
the " why and because is at present beyond
reach. Barley is much better for grass-per-
haps the best of all grains-and wheat and
rye do very well.
Farmers in general do not pay due attention
to seeding with grass; often neglectlng to
SOW the proper kinds, and to use sufficient
quantity Of seed. The choice of kinds should
depend ON the character of the soil and the
object in view, as some species, from their pc
culiar habits, are better adapted to some de-
scriptions of soil than others, while some arc
much better for pasturage, and others for hay.
For example, timothy, or herds grass, does
not succeed on very loose, dry soils, but Is
suited to those more moist and tenacious. Red
clover does not do well on cold, wet lands, but
will thrive in dry situations where few of the
true grasses would sustain themselves. For
hay, it is desirable that all the kinds growing
together, should be in the proper stage to cut
at the same time. But ion pasturage,s it is
better that the sward should be composed of
varieties which ripen successfully start
ing and maturing early, and Others coming in
later, in order to Keep up as much as possible
a fresh growth through the season. Both
hay and pasturage are improved, as the quail
ity, by variety of heritage.
The plants most commonly adopted for
these purposes in this part of the country, ale
red clover (Tritolfam fratense,l white clover
(I. repeas,) timothy or herds grass (Phteunt
pratense,) and red top (Agostts valgaris.l Or
chard grass (Dactysis glomerata,1 Kentucky
blue grass, or June grass Pea pratense,1 and
some other species are cultivated to some ex-
tent in some sections. s
We have two varieties of red clover, COM
monty known as the northern and southern.
The former grows much thelargest as to stalk,
but does not make SO good hay, and it is
longer in coming into bloom, and does not
throw up SO vigorous second crop. The lat
ter comes more fully into bloom at once, and
from its comparatively small stock and abun-
dance of heads makes excellent hay. 1t is a
little earlier then herds-grass or ordinary red
top, otherwise it is better than the northern
variety to mix with those grasses for hay.
We have also several varieties of grasses called
red-top. That commonly known in this mar
ket as western red-top, is larger than kind
which has long been cultivated in this sec
ton, particularly in Plymouth and Bristol cos.
This last is better adapted to light soils, and
| makes better quality of hay. There is an
/ other kind called Rhode Island red-top or
Burden grass, which is still larger than the
first mentioned variety, and is perhaps,
| peter adapted to moist, rich land, where it
produces a large crop of good hay. 1t may be
known from the other kinds by its broader and
lighter green leaf. The western red top, so
called, is frequently confounded with the spe-
cies of grass known here as q fowl meadow,
from which, however, it differs very essential
ly
A good mixture of grasses for hay, and the
proper quantity for one acre, on soils of medi-
UNI dryness in the following:
Red Clover, 8 pounds or qts.
Herds grass, or timothy, s qts.
i Red-top l bushel.
In someinstances clover is sown chiefly as
an improver Of the soil, and as iG will only &C.
! eupy the ground l or 2 years it is best under
! these circumstances to sow no grass seeds
with it, but to increase the quantity of clover
seed to twelve or fourteen pounds to the acre.
Where the land is unfayorable to clover, that
seed should be omitted, and the herds grass
seed increased to twelve quarts and the red-top
to five pecks to the acre. Clover, being bien-
NAL, dies out more or less after the first year,
and the space itoccupied is filed by the spread
of the grasses.
For pastures, on soils Of medium quality
and tolerable dryness, the following mixture
has been found to succeed well:
Red clover OTIS.
White do. 2 do.
Kentucky blue grass do.
Red-top l bus. pks.
Herds grass i bus. 2 pks.
The red clover should be. omitted on wet