Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-26
Seeding Down Land.

Seeding Down Land.
The earlier land is seeded down in the
springt the better; this is to secure the win
ter's moisture to start and sustain the
young plant in case of drought, which
not infrequently occurs early in the sea-
son. This is best done by sowing on the
late SHOWS, as the moisture thus afforded
and the subsequent action of the frost
covering the seed, insure termination
and protection. The practice is one of
long standing, and never fails Of sue
cess if the land is so rich and mellow
that the rains and drying winds do not
pack and crust the surface. The usual
practice is to sow in winter grain, either
rye or wheat, rye being preferable, as
it shades the ground less than wheat,
which, if heavy, retards the growth of
the young grass, and, if lodged, smoth-
ers it.
Another method is to SOW later, or as
soon as the ground is dry enough to
allow covering the seed with the har-
row. Some defer sowing till after the
ground is narrowed, and then pass the
roller over it. Narrowing mellows the
soil, and benefits both the seeding and
the grain, and in this respect is a decid-
ed advantage; but should dry weather
ensue and continue for a long time, the
seeding will suffer somewhatfrom tardy
termination and the thickening growth
of the grain-the grain pushing forward
at a time when the young plant is the
feeblest; should the grain densely occu-
Ply the ground, the seeding will be seri-
ously hurt, though not.perhaps killed.
A thin, feeble growth will result, which
is Sc than complete failure, as in the
latter cast a chance is afforded for re-
seeding, whereas a light catch is usual
ly allowed to stand, and light meadow
and pasture will follow.
The aim, therefore, should be to favor
the seeding as much as possible, even
should it be at the expense of the grain.
To secure a heavy crop of grain and a
thick set of grass together is difficult;
and as the forage crop is the most i'm
portant, it should have the preference.
10 favor the seeding where the ground
is rich, SOW the grain thinner, about
three pecks of seed per acre. This will
! give achance for the grass to develop,
and the grain will grow a larger head
and better filled, so that the yield will
not be much less, if any, and the harm
from lodging avoided. It is a practice
that gives entire satisfaction, and ap-
pies to spring crops as we'll as to winter
grain.
Where a forage crop is desired the
same season, SOW without the grain. 1t
is best to prepare the ground in the fall
the same as for wheat, and SOW early in
the spring, either on the snow or as
soon as the ground will allow harrow
ing, the sowing and brushing in of the
seed to follow the harrow. This will
insure a good start and sufficient growth
to the ground for protection
against the hot sun and drying winds
that follow. The forage crop will be
all the better for the absence of the
grain, as it now gets all the benefit of
the ground and a thicker set for the
future. 1t is indispensable to a good
start that the ground be rich, at least at
the surface, and, to sustain the crop in
the future, be kept so by subsequent
manuring, or what has been gained in
the start will dwindle and thin out and
weeds will occupy the vacant spaces.
In our droughty and freezing climate,
q continued good growth can only be
maintained in a soil that has depth and
drainage as well as fertility.
One important element in farming is
the profit on manure, and grass is one
OF the best means to secure it. Hence
it will pay to prepare the ground we'll.
Less seed also is required, and will
make a stronger and healthier plant
than when crowded, if the ground is
rich and in good condition, and the seed
properly put in. With sound, clean seed,
two or three quarts of clover and three
times the amount of timothy or its
equivalent of other grass seed is about
the right quantity and proportion for an
acre and will form q good set, and,
with good ground. a thick growth. For
pasture without the clover, afew quarts
more of grass seed are required. With
thick seeding there is always more or
less waste, less perhaps the first year,
as the thick set favors protection against
the sun and drought. After that, as
the growth advances, the more vigor-
GUS plants will crowd out the feebler.
Where a large territory is sown the saw
ing of seed by the careful and ex-
perienced farmer is no small item. More
sScN ASHuAAON oA pun 1duO, VI WuC1C
less pains are taken to put in the seed,
as a large proportion will not vegetate
in such case; besides, the plants, from
being smaller and less disposed to
spread, occupy less space, leaving a
vacancy to be filled; when this has
been done the shading of the ground
for the better protection of the feeble
growth is insured.
1t should be made a rule to do all the
seeding as early in the spring as posi-
BILE, as late sowing seldom proves a sue
cess in II hot, dry climate. Early
seeding in the fall may be done to adj
vantage where the grain is omitted, but
only with grass seed, as the young
clover plant is too tender to withstand
well the cold of our Northern winters.
This is better than to SOW in the spring,
rs early fall sowing advances and
strengthens the plant, assuring a good
crop if on good ground, the following
season. In all cases where the soil is
worked, whether it is seeded with or
without the grain, too much pains can