Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-08-25
Thick or Thin Seeding.


wide difference of opiniSn and practice. We
have found that it depends upon the condi-
tion Of the soil and the season. If the
soil bo fertile and mellow and the weather
through the season favorable, nearly every
seed which is properly covered will germi-
nate and make a plant. If the reverse con-
ditiOn exists a larger quantity of feed is nec-
essary.
An intelligent correspondent of the
Country Gentleman gives the following
interesting expression of his views on the
subject:
Much depends upon the condition Of the
land indeed, this has controlling effect
Where the seed-bed is level and thoroughly
mellow, and the seed is sowR and covered
evenly and properly--the seed all being good
"A quart of seed will do more service than
double the amount with the usual culture
And the difference is still greater if the grain
that accompanies it is sown thinly, or If no
grain at all is put out, where the ground is
sufficiently strong to push the young crop.
1t is q serious thing to miss 4 seeding.
The land stocked down is usually the poorest,
and cannot afford to be still further reduced
by another crop Of grain,-for grain is us
ually sown with the seed, which, however,
ought not to be- Besides it interiors with
rotation. This shows the Importance Of
making sure work in seeding down land.
There are many ways and different times to
do this. Some use the grain harrow to
cover the seed. If the land is level and
mellow and q droutb occurs, this will secure
q good stand. In such case, the seed we'll
put down is the seed to be relied on that on
the surface or near it (if the drouth is severe)
will wither that buried quite deep will not
come. Now, if but moderate quantity OF
seed be sown, q comparatively small proper
tion will vegetate. Hence the necessity un-
der such circumstances, of sowing plentifully
Where the seed is brushed in, or a light har.
row-Thomas smoothing harrow is best--is
used, less will be required. The accustomed
peck Of each of the two kinds, as now prac-
ticed by our best farmers, with good sea.
son, and the land in good condition mellow
and smooth enough), will make very good
set. But should the season be a very dry
one, more seed will be required, to make al
lowance for what is at the surface, the most
Of which will be lost. 1t is drouth that we
are to provide against. 1t is drouth that the
farmers fear. The harrow in measure
helps US here, as have shown. The roller
would be of little service, though with fair
season it has its advantages. A better way
to guard against drouth is to SOW early in
the spring, on winter grain, or land prepared
iu the fall. 1t can either be sown on the
late SHOWS, or later and covered with brush
or harrow, or with the roller which here does
its best work. And it is in the early spring
sowing that the least seed is required. j
have seen wonders done with small amount
OF seed, sown on land prepared in the fall
land rich enough, or made rich by applying
manure (after it is plowed) and mixing the
top-soil and manure with the harrow; the seeG
sown evenly on the snows-which gives it 9
chance for even sowing-and leaving it Il
the action of the frost on tho soil to cover il
which it will do to the proper depth. The
seed sown at the rate Of peck, either oi
clover or timothy, per acre, will make q
thick stand, growing maximum crop. Bu
as land is commonly treated double the amoun
is too little rather than too much The safe
way is to use plenty of seed. And let il
not be thought the land 10 too poor to carry
the crop. 1t will carry many, just as vel
as few stems-in this respect being entirely
unlike grain which impoverishes the soil
while grass and clover improve it, In this
respect it cannot be mistaken, as l have
carefully tested it on my own soil and seen i
confirmed on others. The thicker the set o
either grass or clover, the greater will be tn,
Improvement Of the land-the increased en-
richment being in ratio to the number o
stems-and this Improvement is continued
for years. But there must be enough
strength of soil TO start the crop and get il
establshed-a fact which is generally over
looked. We put much of our seed into lanC
that is too poor to grow it, whether heavil
or lightly seeded. But if seed grows at all
let it be remembered that it will as readil,
grow thick set as 4 light one.
On the whole, taking into consideration
the poverty and treatment Of the SOLVE donO
SOW our seed thick enough. If the land j
in good condition, much less is required
Considering the prevalence of the drout
early in the season 1t is the safest way I,
venture full supply Of seed. BY sowin
early in the season, on the late SHOWS, yol
always sure Of sufficient moisture to start th
crop and if the land is rich and well draine,
it will grow, however early and severe tn
drouth may be. The snow moisture, if tn
land be mellow, and particularly if deepl
mellow, will be long retained. 1t is remark
able what thoroughly cultivated soil wi
do. OF course there may be drouth tina
will kill all, regardless of the condition of tn
land but We are not accustomed to such ex
tremes. The main thing is the proper con
dltion OF the soil, plenty of seed evenly soWI
and evenly covered, and early put out, Il
secure the advantage over any mishap fror
the weather which may occur. This wi
, pay; this is safe. All the rest is uncertaint
except the certainty of occasional failur
from drouth or excess of rain, or soant O
careless seeding and putting in the crop
the land also run too low, without mean
taken to replenish its fertility.
The time is near at hand when wintC
grain must be sown. If it is desired to so
to timothy without the clover, it is a goo
, plan to SOW with the grain Immediately aft,
the wheat Tor rye) has been sown aud COY
, cred. 1t is practiced to some extent in tn
section, and have yet to hear of the FIR
. field that did not give satisfaction. TimOth
is very hardy, and will stand the severe co.
Of our winters if it has dry mellow soil vii
:, sufficient start TO make root. The wheat ms
y suCcumb, and be even total loss the tin
! Othy will survive.
4 Seed is dear, the times are hard farmer
D are feeling the panic severely and are eco
! omizing which is right and necessary, b
a let them not adopt the unwise econou
Q (which saw praCticed the past spring.
i lessening their seed because it happens to