Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-02-07

Inc following communication was intended
for last weeks paper, but the writer had not
time TO perfect the article, aud thinks now the
publication may be too late We think not,
and therefore, give it TO the public, in the hope
that others may be induced TO follow his ex-
| pie and tell the people what 'they know about
farming ~
Editor Of the Sentinel
The time for so wing Grass seeds is near at
hand, and there are several questions touching
that matter that deserve consideration. Every
part of the county is, or soon will be, by means
Of the Railroad, near enough to market to
make Hay remunerative crop Besides, the
Diaries and Graziers are receiving an increas-
ed interest throughout the county, and each
of them not only now yields reasonable re-
turns, but there is every promise of their i'm
proving, as the grasses upon which they are
to rely are improved.
1t becomes somewhat important to determine
the kinds of grasses we should seek to cult
vate, the quantity of each to be sowed to the
acre, the manner in which they should be SOW
ed, and whether they should be narrowed in
or in any other way covered.
The common sentiment is, I believe, in fa-
vor of sowing clover and timothy mixed, even
in the Spring. Ny own experience, for many
years past, has been, that you will ordinarily
get as good set of timothy in that way as by
sowing in the Fall on Winter grain nor have
found any perceptble difference when the
mixed seeds have been sowed on oats or on
Wipta r,,yl,n aaI ;e oh,
be mixed SO as TO have but one operation. The
| kinds of seed is another question. The Eng
lish usually mix clover, rye grass, and some
one of the more lasting grasses, SO as to secure
| pasturage. | am not aware that this is done
| TO any extent in this country. Still, the OBJ
| iect is a very desirable one, if it does not in
terfere with the future Hay crop. Timothy
does not, in our climate, and on such soils as
| | have observed, afford a good pasture. IT,
however, Kentucky blue grass will succeed
here and the experiment made by Mr. BLAIB
gives promise Of success, il is worth while tc
try, and this Spring. shall put in an acre OF
two of it with the clover and timothy. Blu
it will probably need time to make it valuable
as TO the quantity of the seed of each kind
Glover seed weighs or ought to weigh G.
pounds to the bushel, and ought to have abou
1000 seed to the drachm weight Timoth,
should weigh about DC pounds to the bushel
| do not know how much blue grass seeC
weighs. Heretofore we have used about ST,
quarts Of clover and five Of timothy 10 tn
acre. shall make my experiment with tel
pounds of clover seed, four of timothy, ant
four of blue grass, and for my crop the usua
quantities. VIII anyone else make trial witt
the same grasses, and report his experiment
and the result next Fall
The manner of sowing. Sowing by han,
has been tried There is machine construct
cd exclusively for sowing grass seeds beside
the one attached to the grain drills, moved b,
horse power. 1t is made for hand power
long box secured in front OF the sower, an,
worked in precisely the same manner as thos
, attached to the drill, except that it is worke
BY hand, and it is found to distribute the see
very evenly any careful man will soon lear
to measure his step and work the slide so as L
sow any quantity to the acre that may be de
! sired. This machine have used for nearl.
twenty years, and recommend it, should tn
: seed be narrowed in or otherwise covered.
In case the grain has been drilled, it is doubt
It full whether any benefit will be derived from
: following with the harrow, if the grount
crumblcs into the drill soon after the seeding
But this is not 10 be relied or. Il the whea