The Charlotte Democrat., 1874-09-14
AGRICU ULT u r A L
Fall Seeding to Grass.

Much has been NaId Oi late, In aSrlcuItH-
raj journals, in favor of sowing timothy
seed in Autumn, either with Winter
wheat and rye, or alone, and we admit that
there are many strong considerations III Its
favor. One great objection TO Spring
seeding is the liability OF the young gEass
to be killed by drouths of SO frequent
occurrence in the latter part of May and
June.
While the young grass is more likely to
he exposed To drouth and sun burning in
Spring seeding, the termination of the seed,
we think, is more likely 10 be retarded in
Fall sowing, as dronths arc more common
in September than in April. Still it is very
rare that September is too dry for wheat to
gcrminate, and we suppose that the amount
of moisture in the soil that would cause
wheat to germinatc, would suffice for tim
othy.
We think that the number OF practical
farmers who favor sowing clover in the Fall
is small-much less than the advocates of
Fall seeding with timothy; but the success
or failure will depend very much on the ma
tyre and condition of the soil. If the soil Is
u hard, tenacious clay, with hard-pan near
the surface, it is unsafe 10 sow grass of any
kind in the Fall, for it is Impossible for it to
become deeply enough rooted to resist sue
ccSSlully the uTaWlnS, VI
frost on such soils.
Another objection to sowing grass seed
with Winter grain as the fact that it will
become so large before harvest as to inter
fcre with the full development of the grain,
and even obstruct its harvesting. 1t is
we'll TO look on all sides Of the sub bcct, and
then experiment cautiously. Mr. W II
White has a contribution in the Country
Gentleman on the subject, which we here
with present;
"The best tine for seeding land to grass
is the time which the enterprising farmer
wishes to adopt. And how is he to find
out when the time is, unless he tries seed
ing at different seasons Of the year? AL
loving that all plants under the hand and
culture are in, or subject to- an artificial
state and circumstances that are unnatural
to them; yet under such circumst ances
natural Laws may not be entirely ignored,
and the WOuld-bc successful husbandman
must often look to nature, and take lessons
from that humble yet invarable teacher,
in order to succeed What lessons does
nature teach us in relation TO planting or
scattering seed ? Every one knows that
the seed Of all plants fall as soon as fully
matured; this seed is scattered more or
less as circumstances govern. and grows
accordingly, according to its own natural
law. Many seeds gcrminate at once; 9th
wait the effects of other or varying seasons,
&c. ; still all may, under certain crcum-
stances, become subject to the caprices Of
man.
AS grass seed ripcns during the Summer
months, and much of it i'll July III New En-
gland, it may be sown with as much (per-
harS more) certainty of its growing, during
early Fall as at any other time, August
or early i'm Sept ember is undoubtedly as
good, if not the best time in the twelve
months of the year, for the purpose of seed
ing to grass, uideSs drouth is prevailing
Seed then sown is certain to grow and fur
nish good crop The following season.
Clover seed sOwn at this time establishes
itself SO as TO endure the rigors of Winter,
and yield a fnll crop the following season :;
ut least such has been the experience and
observation Of the writer, especially on
suitably drained soil none other shcu be
seeded
In looking around among small farmers
| have noticed fields where many spots are
winterkilled, "burnt-out - worms intcst
the field to the partial destruction Of the
crop, or from other cause but partial crops
are realized. Now, what shall be done
with these fields, patches, &c. Ny advice
is the same as | would follow under the
circumstances that is, plow and re-sced
at once; l4ow deep and well, then make the
best possible secd-bed by using a pnlveriz-
ing harrow at different times, till the sur
face is reduced to fine tilth rs sward
land is capable of being reduced. With
this narrowing | would apply and work in
manure or fertilizers freely; unless | could
command these / would not make the at
tempt any further than could do it thor
oughly. When the soil is well reduced,
SOW the seed with liberal hand, and har-
row 1t in with a light seed harrow, to even
and compact the surface.
Fall seeding has this advantage over
Spring seeding: where it is desirable to
seed grass alone, if wcels start in the Fall
the frosts of Winter kill them soon, and the
grass is not liable to be "burnt OUT rs is
often the case if seed is sown alone in
Spring, when the weeds which start witt,
the seed in the Spring often ovcr<ha,lnw
and choke the grass. Therefore, would
advise those farmers who have been nusnr-
cesstul in their Spring seeding To- yraS+
alone, to try Fall seeding.
In seeding down to grass one OF the alb
solute essentials to success is the thoronul
pulverization OF the soil, and unless it is
well enriched by previous crop, fertilizers
should be applied With the seed, that the
young plants may he benefited ut once"