The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-10-15
ar.ss.ssedi3 BY Direreat Nett

GrasS.Seodlng ~ Different Net
4 We hawe sevsral ,nelds which hay
suffered from being oger-cropped; til
seeding which followed the usual rota
ton having failed on account of dr.
weather, other crops were putin for new
seeding, which were too much of a drai1
on the land. These breaks in the rota
ton are always liable to occur whel
spring seeding is relied upon, hence VI
prefer, if possible, to seed down, eithe
for = meadow or pasture, in autumn
There are three ways to do it; will
winter grain, by blowing and sowin!
grass seed alone, or by the scarifyin!
system. When the grass seed is put ii
with winter grain, the latter will keel
the grass crop back the first year, but i
will generally afford considerable pas
ture after the winter grain has bee,
harvested. Unless the growth has beer
abundant 1t Is best not to pasture it
With this form Of seeding the farmer
must wait two years for his meadow
while under the other modes he may
have q meadow the next year. Nearly
all land is adapted to either wheat OF
rye. Dry upland is the best suited tc
rye, while moister soil, if it is not toe
mucky, is suited to wheat. Rye does
best on sandy or gravelly loan, and
such land will always catch best when
seeded with rye. Rye has the advantage
of being better adapted to thin soil,
while wheat must have q strong soil,
either natural or made so by manure.
This is necessary to give it q good root
and growth before freezing, or it will be
liable to winter-kill.
We like the plan of tho direct reseed-
ing of greensward. This system works
well with wheat. When the ground is
properly prepared the decaying sod
makes good seedbed, and by the use
of small amount of commercial ma
nure, even 100 pounds to the acre, the
wheat will get good start, which pre-
pares it for the winter. The phosphate
also helps the grass plants, and this is
one of the most valuable and economic
al uses to which the phosphates can be
applied. The greensward should be
plowed as soon as possible, if a mead
ow, after the grass is taken off. II q
pasture, it can be plowed at any time,
but should be turned over oarly in Au.
gust in order that the sod may be rotted
as much as possible BY September, at
which time the seed should be put in.
In this latitude this should be done by
the middle of the month. Thorough
narrowing or cultivating soon after
blowing viii hasten its rotting. If the
ground is clean and mellow this may
prepare it for the seed; if not, it should
be cross-plowed and then worked to q
fine filth before the seed is put in. A
liberal sprinkling, if it is available, of
barnyard manure will make the crop q
success. In the absence of barnyard
manure . good crop may be had on
greensward by the use Of phosphate
alone. Dat stubble may be seeded in
the same way, but it will not produce so
certain crop unless literally MANFRED.
An autumn seeding may be obtained
by turning over an oat stubble or q
greensward and sowing nothing but
grass seed; when this is done the work
should be performed earlier in the sea-
con, in order that the young grassplants
may get as much growth as possible be-
fore winter, as they will not have the
protection of the grain. On good soil
grass crop put in in this way will afford
. good yield the next year as meadow,
or for late pasture, early pasturing
would be hnrtful. The ground must be
thoroughly worked, so as to be fine and
mellow, even if it is necessary to roll and
harrow it several times. This plan does
not involve - much drsinupon the land
as when the winter grain is coupled
with it, and on this account, and in or
der to secure hay crop as soon as pos
sible, 1t is often adopted. Clean land
and rich soil may be seeded with timo.
thy by the scarifying process, that is,
by sowing the seed on the oat stubble
and narrowing it in August. Some
farmers practice this as saving in
time and labor. II is kind of hap.
hazard way Of doing It and requires q
good deal Of faith In the land and in
suitable rains to follow. This way Of
seeding is often necessary where patches
have dried up or where the catch has
been limited In . spring seeding and
may be followed to patch up such q
field. Some people simply sow the
seed and wait for the rain to work il in.
This plan is altogether too shiftless.
Timothy, orchard.grass and redtop do
best when sown in the fall. OF timothy
alone there should be at least one neck
TO the acre; Of redtop and orchard |
grass ct least three bushels. Clover
may be sown in the spring, the earlier
The better, even while the snow l. on the |
ground. It d Z good plan to COW |
clover when the winter grain Is put In, |
4 1t d put in early. When sown In An.
gust, or the first of September, It viii
grow and blossom the next summer and |
aaord good deal Of pasture. but win |
not be % lasting. - when It is sown |
Barly IN tho spring, because it il tie M.
Eure o1 clover to die out afterone season
d blos0oming, being biennial. Summer
aroaths ore becoming almost On annual
occurrence, and are 10 damaging TO
Deeding with spring crops, entsilinr 20 /
much los Of soed, that It seems necee-
loEY 20 change the gy6tAm AZ snrfn~ l