The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-17
USEFUL DIRECTIONS.
Management of Four Entirely Different
kinds Of Grass Land.

Management of Four Entirely Different
kinsis Of Grass Land.
The Importance of grass lands is not
fully appreciated by many of the most
thoughtful agriculturists, on account of
the small amount of labor required.
compared with other branches of agri-
culture. The farmer does not think Of
the energy spent, the time employed.
the machinery required and the expense
incurred in acquiring the cereals. tubers.
etc., necessary to supply the farm dur
ing winter, while two-thirds of the year
the flocks and herds roam the fields,
supplying themselves with the necessi-
ties of life without care on the part Of
the owner, save to count and salt Occa-
sionally. And. besides, the winter sup
ply of hay depends upon the grass
lands.
If farmers who do not possess the best
of bottom lands would reverse their
mode of farming and make grass 1.-The
idea," instead of grain, greater profits
would be realized, less labor required.
and there would not be so many beg
garded farms. Thus appears the inn
portance of keeping our farms we'll
grassed. 1t does NOS pay to keep a field
in condition which will not produce
half the amount of grass that it could
be made to produce by little expense
and labor.
For brevity we will divide grass lands
into four grades or divisions: Naturally
poor or worn-out lands, hill lands,
bottom lapds and new lands.
To get a good set of grass on nat
urally poor or WORKOUT lands: Plow in
June. Let them lie till September.
Harrow and drag just before you SOW,
which should be about the last of Sep
TENDER. Sow with a grain-drill having
q fertilizer attachment, one peck OF tim
othy seed per acre behind the hoes, and
drill in two hundred pounds of super
phosphate per acre. Wheat or rye may
be sOwn at the same time, if the ground
is not too poor, which will help pay ex-
penses. II you have stable manure to
add, it will be SO much for the better.
The first part of April following, SOW
ten pounds Of clover seed per acre. Do
not pasture for one year from the time
of sowing the timothy seed. Repeat the
process every other year, blowing under
as much growth as possible each time,
until the land is brought up to the re-
quired fertility. This will cost you
something, but the sooner yen get that
bald knob covered with verdant green
the better; then in y few years you will
receive full reward for your labor and
money in grass alone, saying nothing Of
the possibilities of other crops which
such process of resuscitation will de-
velop.
The object in blowing hill lands
should be to get better sod. not to get
grain, although if q rotation of corn.
wheat and grass be instituted and re-
peated every seven years. reasonable
crops of grain will be produced. Plow
in the fall or early spring, and plant to
corn, and follow in the fall with wheat
and timothy seed at the rate of one peck
of timothy seed per acre. The follow
ing spring SOW ten pounds of clover seed
per acre. Now the third and fourth
wears, and pasture the fifth, sixth and
seventh years.
Bottom lands which are not enriched
by sedimentary deposits, should be TO
tated every six years by corn, oats,
wheat and grass. Sow grass seed as
described in hill land and NOW one or
two years and pasture the remainder Of
time. The fertility of the soil and
amount Of grass win increase under this
mode of cultivation
For new lands, follow directions OF
hill lands or bottom lands. rs they may
be situated, excepting quantity Of seed:
which should be less. One bnshd OF
timothy seed to six acres and one bushel
of clover seed to eight acres is sufficient
Cor. Ohil Former.