The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-12-13
Establishing Meadows.-In estat

Establishing MeadOws.-In establish.
ing meadow lands, three points are care
fully considered by the intelligent cult
vator: First, the preparation OF the land;
second, the selection of suits be seeds foT
sowing and method of mixing and third,
the proper times of sowing ard the best
manner of securing good stands.
The land must be in sufficiently dry
condition either naturally or by drsin
ing, for while many varieties of grass
will thrive well on moist land they do
not do their best on wet land. With a
wet soil it is next to impossible to put
the land in proper state OF filth, and
almost every kind of grass calls for a
thorough puiverizing of the soil. The
roots of grasses are delicate and can not
penetrate hard, dry Jumps of earth;
hence, Il they find these in their way
they exhaust their vigor in going round
or under them. Nor is this the only i'll
result that follows from seeding on rough
ground; in exact proportion as the cleds
exist, the nourishing elements of the soil
are locked up from the use of the grass.
Also, much of the seed tails to find its
way into the soil at all, or, on the other
hSnd, gets in too deep to terminate.
LAST, and by no manner of means least,
the soil must be fertile; is Tot naturally
so, it must be made so by a previous crop
or other system of fertilization.
While the majority of f4rmeTs now
SOW grass~seed in the early fall, many
still adhere to spring sowing, and each
class has strong arguments in favor OF It's
respective side. There must, indeed. al
ways be a difference of opinion on this
subject so long as their exists a difference
in the character of soils. Some soils are
uuquestionably better sown in the spring
while others produce best results from
fall sowing. The farmer quickly learn.
this, and viii put in his seed accordingly
As q rule, however, the verdict is il
favor of fall sowing. Both heat and
cold are injurious to young grass plants
but of the two it is generally conceded
that the drOughts of summer do more
harm than cold.
When fall sowing Is followed, if the
seed is TO go on stubble, most farmers
prepare the land and SOW as soon as pos
sibls after harvest. While numbers SOW
grass seed alone, the majority SOW with
some kinds of grain; but one thing il
very essential--let it be sown with what
ever it may, the seed must be in the
ground long enough before frost to tax.
a deep root, or much of it will be de
stroyed by cold. Clover, unless sown IL
August, is usually reserved tor spring
many sowing it and other grass -seec
mixed in the last blowing of Late
corn
The custom now prevails, especially
among the farmers of the North snC
East, of sowing variety Of seeds, some
putting in as many as dozen different
kinds ON one meadow Cultivation
large meadow lands in the Northwestern
and New England States have de-
monstrated, over and over again, that
the admixture of several varieties In
creases the yield of grass; it secures an
early stand, and if the ground fails to
suit one species another viii flourish,
and thus cover all vacant spots.
In selecting seeds for meadows, those
varieties should be chosen that bloom to.
gether, so as to have such as will ripen
together; otherwise those cut too green
will lose greatly by shrinkage. II in,
tended for pasture, the case is of course
reversed; then it is best to so arrange as
tohave succession of ripening crops,
that the stock may be supplied through
out the year. Another thing to be re-
membered is to put down grasses as
nearly alike as possible as regards the
aftermath.
If the surface is perfectly smooth be-
fore the seeds are sown light brushing
will answer, but if not, roller is pre-
ferable. 1t is generally necessary to roll
the land in the spring. especially if it is
stiff clay soil, as the frosts are liable
to heave up the roots, and unless packed
in sgsin the summer drouths destroy the
grass.