The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-09


to grass in spring or autumn depends on
circumstances. On some lands when the
weather is favorable fall seed ng will seem
to DO best. But often when the autumn
mouths arc dry the grass gets such poor
start that unless the winter is very favor
able it makes but poor showing the fol-
lowing spring. Crickets and grasshoppers
often do much damage to fall seeded land
In dry weather the young grass starts slow,
and makes but little growth, and at such
times these insects are usually very plenti-
full, and on the borders of the new seeded
land they often eat the tender grass as fast
as it grows until it is entirely destroyed.
by seeding in spring we avoid these causes
Of failure. l have tried both spring and
fall seeding, but have had very much the
best success with spring seeding. In fact,
l have had very poor success with fall seed
ing. BY seeding in spring with grain we
save the pouehing and narrowing of The
land for one CROP as two crops are sowp
together. When grass seed is sown in
spring with grain, on good, well prepared
land 1t is almost sure to sttrt aud grow well
till the grain ripens and is harvested. If
the grass fails it is usually at this time.
/ have noticed that when the grain was cut.
green for fodder the grass did much better
than when it Was lnt; to ripcn. But am
not sure whether it was duo to the grain 8
being cut early before the weather became
hot and dry, or to tn exhaustion of water
and available plant food in the surface soil
by the ripening grain. think that more
failures in seeding result from lack Of avail
able fertility than from any other cause.
The young grass plant when it first starts
is a very small and delicate structure, and
unless its teuder roots find an abundance
Of plant food within their reach the growth
is very slow, and if its surroun dnse are
unfavorable it soon dies Sown in the
spring with grain it soon starts, but if
there is only Il scanty supply of available
pant food the rapidly growing grain, ly
Its greater visor soon absorbs it, and ly
the time the grain is ripe and harvested
there is little left for the tender grass, and
as natural result it dies. But with
richer aud better prepared sol there is food
enough for both grass and grain, and the
partal shade of the growing grain protects
the grass from the hot sun until it gets so
firmly rooted as TO be able 10 resist its
scorching rays. TO meet this immediate
want Of the young grass usually SOW
light dressing Of fertilizer with the grass
seed which gives it a good start, and it sell |
dom fails to grow.
The grass on new seeded land is often
injured by cutting the grain too low. |
When it is cut high, as with cradle, the
stnbblc affords some protection aud the
grass does much better. Rakiug the grain
fields with spring tooth horse rake in hot, !
dry weather destroys much of the tender
grass, especially if the rake is pressed down
hard on the ground. 1t is better to rake
the grain by hand than to tear up the grass
with horse. When from any cause the
grass is thin on parts Of the new seeded
lands it is good plan to sow additional
grass and cl'ver seed early in tho spring
on bare ground, but it must be .ogn early
while the soil is moist j. w. PIERCE.