The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-09-11
Fall Seeding Grass Lands.

The system of fall seeding to grass is be-
ginning to be practiced in some localities
and with the best results. The system to
which we refer is the sowing of grass seeds
separately or not in connection with grain
of any kind. The usual practice is to seed
with some crop under the impression that
the grain not only serves good purpose in
protecting the growing plants but that the
land in this way is made TO yield an annual
crop which would not obtain IF nothing but
grass seeds alone were sown. When grass
seed is sown with spring grains there is a
liability of its not taking well, and we fire.
quently get light crop of grass the follow
ing year. This il is claimed can be avoid
ed by fail sowngs. Mr.. X. A Willard has
the following suggestions in the Utica IN.
Y. Herald on this subject:
1.-The land is plowed in August or Sep
TENDER and top dressing of well rOtted
manure or compost applied, the land thor
oughiy narrowed and fitted for meadow
The grass seed is then sowed and covered
with brush or light harrow and the soil
rolled. The September rains bring up the
seeds and it gets well rooted before the set
ting 10 of frost. The next season, about the
latter part of July, good crop of hay is ia
ken of. Thus nothing is lost except the
fall feed, and on land requiring plowlng
this is Of little value. The rotting sod and
the compost added, make deep filth which
will yield several good crops, and when
these begin to fail the land is treated in the
same way again.
There is a great difference of opinion as
to the best way Of keeping up meadows, and
of seeding them down. Upon stock farms
many contend that no crop pays 80 we'll as
grass, and that when the land needs break
ing up the sooner it can be got back into
grass the better. In other words, peTma-
nent pastures and meadows are sought, and
no attention paid to a regular rotation of
crops. When such a system prevails, the
usual or common practice is to break up,
putting the land the first year to corn
The second year spring grains are sown,
and the land seeded to grass at the same
time. It Is yidenG under this system, I'M
less considerable quantities of manures be
used, the land must be some what exhausted
of its fertility. The grain crops have robb-
ed it, and it goes back to grass less able to
yield maximum crop than when first bro
ken up. The plan indicated of seeding in
the fall, it will be seen, economies all the
elements of fertility stored up in the soil for
the grass crop, and as experience has ever
shown, gives larger returns in grass at a
less expense of manure than by the other
method. By it you get continuous crop
of grass year after year, which is often of
much account when the lands devoted t.
meadow are limited, and when any material
reduction of the hay crop is attended with
the inconvenience either Of reducing the or
binary stock or the purchase of hay, or its
equivalent in the other kinds of cattle food.
These considerations have led many far
mers to change from the common system of
seeding to this, and after testing it thor
oughly, believe it is an important improve
ment over the old practice.
They urge, in addition, that there is mole
leisure in August and September for getting
Luo BLOuuu tu . uiC5 COiuiAioH iOl AACaNONS
and that there is less liability of having the
work imperfectly done on account of the
weather than there is in the spring, when
often haste is necessary in order to get crops
into the ground in season, while not unfre-
quently, the soil must be worked when too
wet, leaving the surface in a poor condition
for the seed bed.
It is a good custom to roll all lands in the
spring that were seeded the previous au-
tumn. This presses into the soil many
roots that are thrown up and would other
wise perish, and leaves the surface 10 good
condition for the scythe and rake.
C.u,,t,or = concluded IN be the hest rem