The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-03-25

It is usual to SOW grass seed as
early as poe eible, so that the young
plants may make fair growth be-
fore the vel y warm days of summer.
The princi' pal grass crop is clover,
which is &C 'wn upon the wheat, the
young GLOW or being thus shaded and
protected by the growing wheat. 1t
is common to SOW clover seed with
out the us of a harrow for covering
though brush is sometimes passed
over it if the field is clear of snow,
and then, again, the seed is some
times sowrl over the snow, upon
which it remains until the snow
melts, and the seed finds its way to
the soil.
Farmers who contemplate sowing
grass seed over the wheat should en-
deavor to first harrow the field be-
fore sowing the seed. The advan-
tages are that the yield ofwheat will
be increased by spring narrowing,
while the amount of grass seed re-
quired for an acre may be lessened.
If the ground is uneven, and thrown
up by the frost, pass the roller over
the field after sowing the grass seed,
and the field will be smoothed, the
wheat benefited and the seed cover
ed.
As rule timothy and clover are
used together, but no two grasses
could be selected more at variance
in regard to growth and periods of
ripening. Timothy is earlier than
clover, but still the two crops must
be moved together when grown up
on the same field. The consequence
is that either the timothy must be-
overripe or the clover not fully ma
tured. Orchard grass is suggested
as substitute for timothy, as it rip
ems in about the same time as clo-
yer. The objectto orchard grass is its
tendencyto grow in tussocks, but this
may be partially avoided by care in
sowing the seed evenly. 1t stands
the drought well, and grows on near
ly all kinds of soil. AS a pasture
grass it ranks high, due to its begin
ming to grow very early in the sea-
son.
One of the most frequent causes
of failure in securing good catches"
is using an insufficient quantity of
seed. Clover, especially, does not
always make heavy stand. owing
as rule to carelessness in the use
of the seed. When it is considered
that much of the seed sown over the
surface is uncovered, and that large
proportion is destroyed by severe
cold, birds and ond other causes, it
is best to use an excess rather than
too little. If the amount of seed us
uallv sown were increased, and the
seed narrowed in, there would be
good crops of clover secured where
catches" are now in different.
The best fertilizer for grass lands
is potash, and the next best is lime.
A mixture of wood ashes and lime
answers, but the cheapest mode is
the use of the commercial slphate of
potash (kainit]. If grass seed is
sown in the fall, after the dry season
has passed, there will be no necessi-
ty for sowing it on grain field.
On pastures a small proportion of
different grasses may be added to
the orchard grass and clover, though
for that purpose timothy may be
freely used, such as blue grass, mead
ow foxtail, white clover and sweet
vernal grasses do not thrive on all
clarses Of soils, it will be found more
advantageous to reply principally
on clover, timothy and orchard grass.
Pasture land should be prepared by
reducing it to fine condition, CIV
ing a good broadcasting of manure.
Old pastures should not be plowed,
but COED coating of manure with
reseeding, will prove beneficial.