The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-02-20
Preparing Land for Grass.


A correspondent Of the Country
Gentleman writes
"Where land is intended to be seed
ed down, whether in connection with a
grain crop or without, it should receive
extra attention in order TO favor the
increased demand Of the double crop
of the grain and the forage plant, or
the latter if sosn alone 40 as to secure
not only good catch and good
start, but to continue the growth and
sustain the plant during the drought
which seldom fails to occur. In this
way fair to good crop Is realized the
same season it grown without.an ac-
companying gram crop, with the pros
pect of an increased yield the follow
ing season, to be further kept up with
manure, which, if properly applied,
will suffer no loss on grass lands, the
network of roots which forms the sod
appropriating all, time in such case be-
ing allowed for this. Further, good
cover of grass will prevent the rays of
the sun and the drying winds from
getting access to the ground, and will
hold the dew and the moisture of rain
longer. The main loss of moisture is
what the plants themselves take from
the soil, and the greater the quantity
the better, as it is measure of the
growth of the crop. This measure ap
plies to the roots of the plant as well,
which penetrate deeply if favored by
culture, and this culture, deep and mel
low, is necessary, when il is considered
what an amount of water grass takes
from the soil, the process going on dur
ing the entire season, from early spring
till late fall, the grains occupying but
half that time. Deep culture is there
fore of more Importance in growing a
grass crop than one of grain. AS in
our droughty climate we do not obtain
the requisite amount of moisture from
the air, we must seek for it in the
ground, and only in its depth can it be
obtained. In this way heavy crops
and good sod are secured, the sod
when turned down, still further bene-
fiting the land by introducing vegeta-
ble matter, when distributed through it
is one of the best means of favoring
moisture. This prepares the ground
not only for further growing grass or
clover, of any other forage crop, but in
a superior manner grain, including
wheat, If the soil is composed largely
of clay.
"The growing of sod, as is well
known to good farmers, is one of the
principal means of improving land, as
the dairy regions have long since
shown in this country and grazing in
England. Badly reduced land has
been renovated and made profitably
productive in the clay loans of Central
New York by single two years course
of clover aided orly by plaster, good
yield of hay being realized at the same.
So, with fair set of grass-whlch can
be obtained on worn-out land only by
early sowing on winter grain in the
spring or, better, on land prepared in
autumn without the grain-a good sod
has been secured in few years by the
use of mineral manures adapted to the
land. The value of the fertilizers was
realized in the crops grown. while the
main Interchangeable matter in the
soil-was secured in the sod, where
farm manure was wanting. But all
this must he preceded by good prep.
aration of the sell, comminuting and
deeply working it. which viii tell in
future years in its favor, Just as bad
treatment will still further reduceit'