Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1883-08-13

The cause of this is to be found in the
nature of our soil and climate, and Oul
observation leads us to believe that the
greatest difficulties are met in first
efforts. The most serious complaint
generally is, that "the stand is not
good" or, "the seed did not come UP
we'll" Some such statement is made
by most farmers in Kansas when they
are making their first efforts to raise
tame grass. But the fact of success
proves that tame grasses will grow
here and grow well.
Our experience with Kansas soil
(and the same is true of southwestern
MissourD- has taught us that grass
seed must be covered deep enough to
have the benefit of moisture from be-
low it, unless it is scattered in melting
snow, or when atmosphere and soil
are in such harmonious relations OF
moisture that the seed has terminated
and taken root before the surface soil
becomes dry. The normal condition OF
the surface here in summer is dry, eX-
cept only during the fall OF rain and
for few hours thereafter. The sur
face soil is usually dry, and the dry
ness extends fsr enough down to pre-
vent grass seed from cooting. We have
sown grass seed on the surface rs we
did years ago on the clay lands of
Pennsylvania, but it never grew. Then
again, we have sown the same kind OF
seed on the same kind OF soil and
covered it, and that took root and
grew well. We once planted corn seed
in May and it lay in the dry soil until
rain, June 26, gave it moisture
enough to sprout. That was in 1860
Six years ago we scattered grass seed
in water standing on small bit of flat
ground. We had no trouble about q
stand in that case.
This personal experience is not differ
ent from that of other men with whom
we have conversed and whose work we
have seen, and it all goes to show two
things, O) that methods OF feeding in
Kansas must be unlike those of eastern
and northern farmers, and (2) that
when proper methods are adopted tame
grasses do well in Kansas.
In view, then, of the certain and early
extinction of wild grasses in this state
it becomes q matter of much import
ance to our farmers that they learn tC
raise tame grass. Experiments will
different varieties of seeds, on ditleren
kinds of soil, at different times, anC
under varying circumstances, will soOl
result in permanent success. These
experiments need not occupy mucl
space A rod or two of ground is o.
good for the purpose as an acre or ;
hundred acres. But it is not well {,
practice on small pieces of grounC
closely adjoining, if the seeds used arr
those of similar grasses that ripen q
the same time, because OF the pOSsi5il
ity of mixing. Good farming keeps al
products pure as possible in kind. Ii
a field prepared for corn there may b.
half dozen or more little spots Sc
apart for experimenting with grasses
Let q careful record be kept in ever,
case, showing time, kind OF weather
soil, method of preparing soil, quantit.
of seed, and the space used.
Experience already has established
several propositions, one of which is
that land ought to be as carefully pre-
pared for grass as for any other crop
Another is, that ordinarily grass see,
ought not to be sown with grain of an,
kind. 1t does better with rye thar
with wheat or oats. Red clover au'
timothy, timothy and red top, whit
clover and blue grass, are common
mixtures of grass seed. Orchard gras
does better alone, so does the ever
green or meadow-oat grass and alfalfa
Japan clover and Bermuda grass w
would not include in any eXperimen
except for pastime or to satisfy curios
ity, or for purposes of comparison.
a IIttIe Girl'a OuestiOns.