Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-09-21

Netciy Seei~i LaMis as Afscfed By the
Suggestions in regard 20 Re
seeding.
over large portion OF Maine. and par
ticularly In some towns in Oxford. Andro-
scoggin and Franklin counties, the extreme
drought that has prevailed for two sue
cessive summers with q winter Intervening
the most unfsvorable for vegetation cx-
perienced for many years. has caused
deplorable failing OF the hay crop the
present season. But the evil does not stop
here. OF the thousands of acres that
were newly seeded and laid down 10 grass
last wear. but q moicty Of them made
= catch sufficient to warrant their being
let alone with a reasonable expcctaf Ion Of
a rair crop OF grass. The greater part OF
such lands were plowed and rescesicd a. ain
last spring. and those with the thousands
of acres that were seeded last spring are
found this August as bare OF grass as when
plowed Ia the spring, Old aelds, from the
effects OF the ice OF last winter and the
drought, and srasshoppers OF the summer.
are very nearly played out. Ind under or
binary circumstances cannot bc counted
on for but n mesgcr crop Of grass next
year. Newly seeded lands must be the
main dependence. on most farms. and
these are a failure. To plow up again next
year II not practicable. No stock. no
manure. DO crops" The question resolves
itself thus How shall these fields be re-
seeded with grass, 50 as TO get the quick
e., return In a crop OF hay; In answer to
this question. offer the following suyyes-
lions la all localities Situated so A. to be
exempt from wiuter-killing, pass = harrow
over the fields As soon n the crops are Of
the ground-the earlier this work the bet
ter-and seed thickly 10 herds grass and
red top, and cover with q light brush har-
| row or by passing n roller over 1t. The
roller will cover it sufficiently, II frequent
rains occur. aud will leave the ground
smooth and In good condition Tor the
>cythe or mower. With favorable wealth
er the grass will get good start this fall.
The stubble from the harvested crop will
! hold the Snow somewhat, aud serve In
! some degree A. protection from winter
killing, and next year fair crop Of grass
| NAV be expected. In localities where the
/ Young grass roots would be likely to : Ter
| from freezing, IL would h. better to defer
/ sowing TIL early In the spring. sowing the
/ seed upon the snow sometime in March
/ perhaps earlier a. the season might be
/ Then. the thawing and freezing OF the sur
| face would give the seed sufficient cover
| ing, and sftcr the ground become settled.
| at the proper time pass the roller over i;
| TO smooth the surface. II the latter way
| l. adopted, II would be well to add a quar-
! ter or a third part clover seed. say to 5
/ pounds OF clover seed with or 10 quarts
| herds grass aud 10 lbs red top TO the acre
| clover sown now, or later would be- more
| liable 10 kill out, think. than the grasses
| would but perhaps IL might be saved By
1 sowing ON the snow in spring. I nave fire.
| qucntly seeded down 10 grass with winter
| rye. generally sowing in october with
mixed seed and get good " catch. and
have frequently mown the grass after the
| grain was harvested. cutting good swaih
much OF the grass being headed out
| Clover will not head out the first season.
neither will red top Ia a great extent; but
that i little matter A. the chief value OF
this grass j. In it, long green heads hat
grow through the whole season.
But whether the grass seed Is sown this
fall OF next spring, do not he sparing Of
seed. Thin seeding will defer q good bur-
den OF grass year or two and Is always
poor economy.
This question Of increasing the hay crop
| In those parts OF the State where the
| drouth has prevailed. l. an important one
and now is the tune to consider the N after
and see what can be done to avert the re-
| currrnce Of so serious a calamity A. anoth-
er short crop of hay. Correspond, a o>
| Leieiston Journal