Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-09-20
RenOVatiDg Old Grass.

We have been having discussion as 10
the best way TO renovate WORKOUT grass
lands One Of my neighbors propose to use
Manhattan Companys plant-tood this fall.
hoping to start a sufficient growth to form
mulch to protect the roots in winter. | would
like your opinion Of the following conclusion
to which have come
IS If the grass is fair, to its distribution
OF catch would cut or pasture it az
soon possible, and if Pastured, would
NOW off the punches afterward, ard then
apply the plant-food as soon az practicable,
20 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 gras-
goes ahead Of weeds and gets full possession.
me years ago | had crest, where the rock
lies near the surface, which was a thick
patch Of planIain. 1t would not have hurt
one to offer dime apiece for sprigs of grass
to be found among it. | tOp-dressed it with
old barry yard manure, without seeding. The
next season / might have offered a reward Of
a dime each for all Of tie plantains 1t was
solid grass, and has continued so ever since
Nevertheless where the present grass-feIds
are patchy, weedy and irregular, l would
scratch little seed IN about the first week
y
meadows OF perhaps other experience would
suggest other sorts, according to soil, sc. J
think 1t would be we'll to get the plsnt food
on first, and after one rain to scatter the
seed J. H.
The foregoing seems to be very well-con-
sidered views of the case As to the value
Of the Manhattan Company's plant-food we
have no knowledge that wouli Justify US in
expressing positive opinion as to its value
But thee can be no question that any good
manure Of this class, spread in September.
will have most invigorating effect to run
down grass lands. The more Immediately
before rain it c n be spread the better, prob
ABLY. Will he the result. The sowing should
he preceded or followed by a very vigorous,
sharp narrowing, whether grass seed Is sOwn
or not. Indeed the instance mentioned Of
the rocky crest on which the grass was re
stored by the use Of manure only confirms
our belief that where there has once been a
good growth Of grass it viii be restored by
renewing the conditions of favorable growth,
though Of course there is no objection to re-
seeding.
No doubt the vigorous fall root growth
spoken Of is Of great importance: but we
are inclined to attach more value than our
correspondent does to the mulching effect OF
the grass itself-a value which we believe
would be shown very clearly if part of the
late fall crop, after growth has ceased, were
clos ly shaven from the ground and taken
away.
On second thought, there is probably more
reason th N there at first seems to be in the
suggestion that grass jumps ahead of the
weeds when the land has been made rich Ot
course the manure is applied equally to the
grass and to the weeds but the richer the
land is made in those constituents which the
cultivated grasses most need the more advan-
tage do these obtain over such weeds as thrive
under other chemical conditions
If the present grass is very patchy and IT.
regular grass-seed will undoubtedly do good
To the red top and timothy we should add
both red and white clover and little mead
ov fescue.-E UeniHg Post.