The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-02-14
Providing arass seed

Every farmer uses moro or less seeds Of
the different grasses and forage plants.
Most Of these seeds are purchased from
dealsrs or growers, few farmers being 50
situated as 70 grow al the grass seeds
needed for stocking down pastures and
meadows in the Spriag. The season is
coming on when these seeds must be sown,
If ever. Il Is time to look around and
find where these can be procured to the
best advantage, or at the cheapest rate.
Both these requirements are, or mus. be,
kept in view; il win not do to buy seeds
with either object in view alone. Seeds
bought at the best advantage are always
cheap. They may cost q little more money
at the outset, yet may be the cheapest.
As an instance, the experience Of a man
in Western New York may be adduced.
Wishing to SOW little Alsike clover seed,
he consulted the catalogues, and advertise
ments Of all the regular and transient
dealers Prices ranged from seventy-ive
cents to one dollar and twenty-five cents
per pound The diffeFence-6fty cents
per pound--was considerable; SO he con-
eluied to send to the parties offering the
seed at the lowest prices. The seed grew
well, but the next year several stools Of
the white or ox-eye daisy blossOmed out
finely. They were dug out Of course, but
new ones have appeared every year since,
from seed which had hitherto remained
dormant in the ground. That seed was
not chap at any price. The same person
wished 70 SOW some more last season. He
was at the trouble and expense of taking
journey Of sixty miles in order to per-
sonally examine, at large seed store, the
samples of Alsike seed. The seed pur-
chased was previously examined with a
magnifying glass, and no ox-eye daisy seed
could Be detected. The Alsike seed cost
more than advertised prices, but the pur-
chaser will probably find it cheap.
! 1t is wise to sow the best seed and to
SOW plenty Of it, 1t is wise also only to
buy Of seedsnen who have an established
reputation for accuracy, earefulness and
responsibility. The reputation Of such is
worth more than the profits on whole
seasons sale, and Of course their goods
can be relied upon. They also have a
direct interest in selling only the best
seed, since usually the results of such
sales are standing local advertisement"
in every section where sown.
| It is necessary to SOW plenty Of seed.
Ten cents saved in seed results usually in
dollar lost in the harvest. Just how
much would be enough the circumstances
of each particular locality can alone de-
termine. This much is eertain--no one
has ever reported that he had sowed too
much. All errors have been invariably
made the other way, as far as known. Ii
the "penny-wise but pound foolish course
that Of sowing as few pounds Of seed as
possible--is followed, the hay crop will be
quickly gathered, and in winter will soon
be gone. Just as much seed must be sown as
will stock every square inch of the ground
with at least one growing plant. This will
take more seeds in number than just the
number of square inches Of surface in the
field. Four or more times this amount
should be provided, for much is inevitably
lost. The seed should be scattered Law
ishly enough to secure = good stand, if it
takes full half Of seed to each acre
to be seeded down.-COaatry Gentleman.