Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-09-26
NO. 23e.
FALL SEEDING WITH GRASS.

Farmers are gradually coming to the
belief that no crop pays SO good q proht
on cost of land and labor az the grass crop.
Like every other crop which the farmer
can raise; heavy crop gives, under all
circumstances, a higher profit than . light
one; even though the quality Of the ksy
may be slightly below that of the latter,
The grain crops, which at present prices
and cost Of labor hardly pay the expense,
not including the use Of the land, sap the
land. rob the soil OF its richest plant lOods
taking from it the elements which are
needed to produce heavy crops Of grass
for series of years. 1t is, we think,
worth while for the farmer to consider
whether, in raising grain yesr AFTER oysas,
he is not throwing away his labor ysud.
impover;shing his farm -.4-7
| We have become convinced that it Is
the most profitable course for the farmer
to seed with grass, in the fall, the land'
which he usually ploughs at that time in
preparation for grain the following spring,
and to turn over his sod land which does
not produce satisfactory crops Of grass,
and-aiter narrowing in from ten to twen-
ty, or even thirty, loads of fine manure or
two hundred and fifty pounds Of phos-
phate, to the acre-sow it with grass seed,
to be followed with clover as the snow IL
going of, Immediately after. the succeed
ing spring. What we have said applies
especially, of course, to land that il adapt
ed to grass; soil that is moist and reten.
tive of moisture and manure. lit has
been thoroughly drained, all the better.
On such soil very moderate quantity Of
manure will prove very lasting in sustain
ing the grass crop Taking one year
with another, this course will give . great
er quantity of hay to the acre than .,op-
dressing; and the hay will be Of differ
ent character-a mixture Of clover and
timothy at first, and afterwards timothy
and red-top. all growing up and perfectinR
their blossoms and seed If not cut too
early. Top-dressirg produces fine
thick bottom, which yields well. but the
grass does not usually produce heads
with blossoms and seeds, seeming more
like the grass which grows upon rich spots
in pastures which are neglected by stock
1t is also more difficult to cure than
coarser grass.
| Old farmers tell us that when the coun-
try was new, grass seed would always
catch. There was then no trouble, be the
season wet or dry; the young plants of
clover and timothy found just the food
they wanted, and put forth their roots and
leaves with such vigor that they were
soon secure from drought and too firmly
established TO be destroyed by the heav-
ing of the frost in winter. The present
untavora1le condition of the soil for the
grasses is the result of cropping with grain
year after year, much of which has been
carried away from the farms. II this
system of grain raising can be abandoned.
but little pains will be required to return
the soil gradually towards its original
productiveness.
In fall seeding the soil should be made
very fine and smooth, and enriched BY
the application of some fertilizer, and the
seed covered lightly by roller or BRUSH
or by the smoothing harrow. sacs
| The work should be done - early -
possible, although we have sown grass
seed as late as October /. with good re-
suits. Two months earlier is preferable.