The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-17
Sowing Grass seed in Spring.

tfEAsdelpnla Record.
II is usual to SOW grass seed as early a,
posi- ole. so that the young plants may make
Q fair growth before the very warm DAYS of
summer. The principal grass crop is clover,
which is sowD upon the wheat, the young
clover being thus shaded and protected by
the growing wheat u u common TO SOW
clover seed without the use OF a harrow for
covering, though q brush is sometimes
pas sed over il IL the field is clear of snow
and then, again, the seed is sometimes sown
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 endeavor to first
harrow the field before sowing the seed. The
advantages are that the yield of wheat will
be increased by spring narrowing, while the
amount OF grass seed REQ aired for an acre
may be lessened III the ground is uneven
and thrown up by the frost. pass the roller
over the field after sos wing the grass seed. and
the field will be smoothed, the wheat bene.
fitted, and the seed covered.
AS a rule timothy and clover are used to.
gether, but no two grasses could be selected
more at variance in regard to growth and
periods OF ripenlng. Timothy is earlier than
clover, but still the two crops must be moved
togeti' er when grown upon the same field.
The consequence is that either the timothy
must be ovsrripe or the clover not fully
subsii ute for timothy, as it ripens in about
the s. me time as clover. The objection to
oIcha I'd grass is its tendency to grow in tus-
socks, but this may be partially avoided by
care in sowing the seed evenly. 1t stands
the drought well, and grows on nearly all
kinds of soil. AS a pasture grass 1t ranks
high, due to its beginning to grow very early
in the season.
One Of the most frequent causes of failure
in securingrgood catches is using an in
sufficient quantity of seed. Clover especi-
ally. does not always make 8 heavy stand
owing as rule to carelessness in the use of
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 other causes, it is best
to use an excess rather than too little. IL
the amount of seed usually sown were IL
creased, and the seed narrowed in. there
would be good crops of clover secured where
catches" are now difficult
The best fertilizer for grass lands is potash,
and the next best is lime. A mixture OF
wood ashes and lime answers but the cheap
est mode is the use OF the commercial sui
plate Of potash lkainit). If grass seed is
sown in the fall. alter the dry season has
passed, there will be no necessity for so wing
II on grain field On pastures a small pro-
portion 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, meadow foxtail, white
clover and sweet vernal grass. As soma
grasses do not thrive on all classes OF soils il
will be found more advantageous to relv
principally on clover, timothy, and orchard
grass. Pasture land should be prepared by
reducing it to fine condition, giving good
brCadcasting of manure. Old pastures
should not be plowed, but good coating of
manure, with reseeding, will prove bene6-
cisl.