The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-11-11
FALL SEEDING TO GRASS,

FALL SEEDING 40 GRASS.
Much has bee.4 said of late, in
agricult1gal Journals, in favor of
sowing timothy seed In Autumn,
either with winter wheat and rye,
or alone,ssand we admit that there
are many strong considerations in
its favor. One great objection to
Spring seeding is the liability Of
the yousg grass to be killed by
droughths of 50 frequent occurrence
in the latter part of May and
June.
While the young grass is more
likely to be exposed to drouth and
sun-burning in Spring seeding the
termination Of the seed, we think,
is more likely to be retarded in Fall
sowing, as drouths are more com
mon in September than in April.
Still it is very rare that September
is too dry for wheat to germinate,
and We suppose that the amount Of
moisture in. the soil that would cause
wheat to germinate, would suffice
for simothy.
2Wethink that the number of prac-
tical farmers who favor sowing
clover in the Fall is small-much
less than the advocates Of Fall seed
ing with timothy; but the success
or failure will depend very much
on the nature or condition of the
soil. Ifthe soil is hard, tenacious
clay,with hard-pan near the surface,
it is unsafe to SOW grass seed of any
kind in the Fall, for it is impossible
for it to become deeply enough
rooted to resist successfully the
drawing, heaying action Of the frost
on such soil.
Another objection to sowing
grass seed with winter grain is the
fact that it will become 50 large be-
fore harvest as to interfere with
the full development of the grain,
and even obstrpct its harvesting.
It is we'll to look on all sides of
the subject and, then experiment
cautiously. Mr.. ". II. White has
a contribution in the Country Gen
tleman on the subject which We
herewith present.
"The best time for seeding land
to grass is the time which the en-
terprising farmer wishes to adopt.
And how is he to find out when
the time is ualess he tries seeding
at different seasons Of the year!
Allowing that all plants under the
hand and culture are in, or subject
to, an artificial state and cir
cumstances that is unnatural to
them; yet under such circum-
stances natural laws may not be
entirely ignored, and the would be
successful husbandman must often
look to nature, and take lessons
from that humble yet invariab?e
teacher, in order to succeed
What lessons does nature teach us
in relation to planting or scatter
ing seed? Every one knows that
the seed of all plants fall as soon
as matured; this seed is scattered
more or less as circumstances gov
ern, and grows accordingly, accord
ing to it's own natural law. Many
seed germinate at once; others
wait the effects Of other or varying
seasons, &c, still all may under
certain circumstances, become sub
ject to the caprices of man.
AS grass seed ripens during the
Summer months, and much of it
in July in New England, it may be
sown with as much (perhaps nore)
certainty of its growing, during
early Fall as ct any other time
August or early IN September IS
undoubtedly as good, if not the
best time in the twelve months Of
the year for the purpose of seeding
to grass unless 4 drouth is prevail
ing. Seed then sown is certain
to grow and furnish good crop
the following season. Glover seed
sown at this time establishes It
self 50 as to endure the rigors Of
Winter, and yield a full crop the
following season; at least such
has beeen the experience and OBJ
seryation of the writer, especially
on suitably drained soil; none
other should be'seeded.
In looking around among small
farmersI noticed fields where many
spots are winter killed, ':5urnt