The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-02-15

Establishing Mead0Ws.--In establish
ing meadow lands, three points are care
fully considered by the intelligent Guilt
vator: First, the preparation Of the land;
second, the selection of suitable seeds for
sowing and method of mixing, and third.
the proper times of sowing and the best
manner ofsecuring good stands.
The land must be In sufficiently dry
condition either naturally or by drain
ing, for while many varieties of grass
will thrive we'll 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, If 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 clOds
exist, the nourishing elements of the soil
are locked up from the use of the grass.
Also, much of the seed fails to find its
way into the soil at all, or, on the other
hand, gets In too deep to terminate.
Last. and by no manner of means least,
the soil must be fertile; is rot naturally
SO, it must be madeso by previous crop
or other system of fertilization.
While the majority of farmers now
SOW grass~seed in the early fall, many
still adhere to spring sowing, and each
class has strong arguments in favor of its
respective side. There must, indeed, al
ways be a difference of opinion on this
subject so long as their exists q difference
in the character of soils. Some soils are
PROFESSIONALLY better sown in the spring,
while others produce best results from
fall sowing. Ihe farmer quickly learns
this, and will put in his seed accordingly.
As rule, however, the verdict is in
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 i'd to go on stubble, aaost farmers
prepare the land and SOW as soon as pos
sible after harvest. While numbers SOW
grass seed alone, the majority SOW with
some kinds of grain; but one thing ls
very essential--let it be sown with what
ever it may, the seed must be in the
ground long enough before frost to take
a deep root, or much of it will be de-
stroyed by cold. Glover, unless sown in
August, is usually reserved tor spring,
many sowing it and other grass'seed
mixed in the last blowing Of late
corn.
The custom now prevails, especially
among the farmers Of the North and
East, of sowing q 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 I'M
creases the yield of grass; II secures an
early stand, and II the ground fails 20
suit one species another will 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 viii rlpep
together; otherwise those cut too green
win lose greatly by shrinkage. 4 'nS
tended for pasture, the case - Of course
reversed; then it il best to 80 arrange as
to have succession Of ripening crops,
that the stock may be supplied through
out the year. Another thing TO pc rel
msmbesed is to put down grasses as
nearly alike as possible as regards rne
aftermath.
If the surface Ii perfectly smooth be-
fore the seeds are sowp Light brushing
will answer, but if not, roller y pre-
ferable. 1t is generally necessary 70 roll
the land IN the spring, especially II it -
q stif clay soil, 81 the frosts are liable
Al, Z ,.oo4s and unleas hacked