Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-09-29
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Renoyating old Grass.

We have been having a discussion as
to the best way to renovate WORKOUT
grasslands. One Of my neighbors pro-
pose to useManhattan Company's plant
food this fall, hoping to start sufficient
growth to form mulch to protect the
roots in winter. | would like your opin-
ion of the following conclusion to which
have come:
"If the grass is fair, as to its distrlou-
ton or CATCH" l would cut or pasture
it as soon as possible, and if pastured'
would NOV off the punches aiterward,
and then apply the plant food as soon
as practicable, to get all the growth
could before winter. do not think the
main gain of fall top-dressing to be
mulch, although that is very valuable.
think the vigorous fall growth the
great point. The root jumps at the first
touch of spring, and away the grass goes
ahead of weeds, and gets foil possession.
Some years AGO had crest, where the
rock lies near the surface. which was
thick pitch of plantain. 1t would net
have hurt one to offer dime apiece for
sprigs of grass to be found among it. |
top-dressed it with old barn-yard manure
without seeding. The next season l
might have offered reward of dime
each for all of the plantains. 1t was
solid grass, and has continued SO ever
since. Nevertheless where the present
grass-felds are patchy, weedy and irreg-
ular, | would scratch a little seed In
about the first week in September-red-
top and timothy, if for meadows; or
perhaps other experience would suggest
other sorts, according to soil, &c. think
it would be we'll to get the plant-food on
first, and after one rain to scatter the
seed. t. ]. II.
The foregoing seems to be very we'll
considered views of the case. AS to the
value of the Manhattan Company plant
food, we have no knowledge that would
justify us in expressing positive opin
ion as to its value. But there can be nc
question that any good manure of thi
class, spread in September, will have {
most invigorating effect to run dowr
grass-lands. The more Immediately be
fore a rain it can be spread the better
probably will be the result. The sowing
should be preceded or followed by yer,
vigorous, sharp narrowing, whether gras
seed is sown or not, Indeed, the instanc
mentioned of the rocky crest on whicl
the grass was restored by the use Of ma
nure only confirms our belief that wher
there has once been a good growth o
grass it will be restored by renewing tn
conditions Of favorable growth thong
of course there is no objection to reseed
ing.
No doubt the vigorous fall root-growt,
spoken of is of great Importance ; bu
we are inclined to attach more value tina
our correspondent does to the mulchinI
effect of The grass itself-a value whicl
we believe would be shown very clearl.
if part of the late fall crop, afte
growth has ceased, were closely shaver
from the ground and taken away.
On second thought there is probabl
more reason than there at first seems t
be in the suggestion that grass jump
ahead of the weeds when the land ha
been made rich OF course the manur
is applied equally to the grass and to tn
weeds; but the richer the land is mad
in those constituents which the cullivat
ed grasses most need the more advantag
do these obtain over such weeds as thrv
under other chemical conditions
If the present grass is very patchy an
irregular, grass.seeG will undoubtedly d
good. To the red-top and timothy W
should add both red and white Glove
and little meadow fescue.-Evenin
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