Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-08
FALL-SEEDING GRASS.

Good farmers are becoming, year by
year, in the West, more convinced of the
inutility of spring seeding to get a good
stand of grass when soWn with another
crop, particularly if that crop be oa's. The
reasons are simple, the principal one being
that the young grass, being smot bered by
the crop, grows epindliDg and with but little
root, and the usual drouth of summer,
after the grain crop is gathered, often kills
1t entirely; or, if it does not, it is 50 weak
ened that the subsequent freezing and thaw-
ing of winter heaves it, or freezes l. to such
an extent that it takes sometimes wears TO
fully recover.
This is obvisted if the seed be sown after
the crop of grain has been harvested. The
land should be lightly plowed, narrowed
and rolled until perfectly smooth. Upon
this SOW the seed ct the rate of twelve
quarts of timothy, unless clover be used on
the field, in which case eight quarts will be
about the quantity for ord nary seeding. 1t
is true many good farmers SOW less, but ex-
perience has shown that ample seeding
gives the better and more equal stand. The
seed being sown, harrow again with light
smoothing harrow or some other implement
that will not clog but will leave what trash
may be br ught to the surface equally dis
tributed over the field.
The seeding for grass should be made in
the latter part of August or beginning of
September; indeed, the earlier the better,
If sessODatle rains occur, so that the grass
may get good ro0thold before the ground
freezes. If it be intended TO SOW clover as a
part Of the meadow or pasture, six 10 eight
pounds should be seeded the following
spring just as the frost is coming out of the
grounc; and this need not be narrowed in.
When the land becomes settled it is good
practice to roll it with moderately light
section roller, TO compress the earth about
the roots OF the grass and clover.
The above remarks are adapted to the
climate Of Chicago where the article is an
editorial in the Western Rural. Tennessee
has at least ten million acres of land net
now in any European grass which ought to
be seedtd as soon az may be. Last Nov
ember the Agricultural Editor of this paper
sowed some seven or eight acres Of timo.
thy, orchard grass, redtop and blue grass on
land near this city belonging to Col. Burch.
The seed was all tested as to vitality before
1t was committed to the soil. 1t was fresh
and perfect; all terminated in the field, and
sll was oointer-bilIed. 1t was sown too late
In the fall. We know from long observa-
ton that young grass from the seed is less
able to stand winter freezing than young
wheat and rye. Hence one mag SOW
these cereals later IN autumn
than grass seed, with safety.
There is not, however, a month in the year
in whica we have not sown grass seed with
success. They should have the benefit of
the frs. fall rains, on well prepared ground,
to give a matursd root before wint,r frost.
All know that halfformed leaf of a grape
vine, or tree of any kipd, or haf-formed
head of wheat, is in no condition to stand
q hard frost. To avoid dangers of this
kind, SOW grass seed early, and be careful
not TO cover it too deep. Bush or harrow
the ground after blowing, before so wing the
seed. For pasture, orchard grass, herds
grass and clover make the best grazing.
Sow the clover seed in February in our
cnmate.