The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-01
Culture of Grnsses.

PROT }. w sanbom. In Pnlric Farmer.
A finely pulyerized soil is indispensable
10 n quick and good grass sod. A cloddy
soil is the grave yard Of the young micros-
copic roots Of our grasses. Grass seed pro-
duccs the smallest plants with the tinicst
root fbres Of any field crops grown in this
country. and, when sown on cloddy, hard
soil, IL means the destruction or stintcd
life Of most Of the young plants. Fine di-
vision Of the soil is multiplication OF the
soil. The more finely pulvcrized the soil,
the more moisture IL will hold. A fine
soil will draw more water and from deeper
areas than coarse one, and supply II to
the needy young seeds and their tiny
roots, and with II necessary plant food.
The application Of the above truths cannot
be too strongly impressed on those who
desire TO grow the best grass crops.
Theoretically, each crop should be
manfred, but practically this il hard 10
do, and | have followed the system Of
manuring well the tillage crop In the ro-
tation that preceded the grass | would
prefer manuring when grass Is seeded or
just before, II equally convenient. In the
modern acceptance Of the term, chemical
manurcs cover materials which We
cannot Afford 10 use in Mis-
souri, 10 grow grass. Ashes are
an exceedingly elective grass fertilizer, cs-
pecially for clover. When bOnemeal Is
used with ashes q handsome and sure
crop follows, and usually at profit when
hay is 81 10 - ton.
Hay IL the most unfortunate crop that
We can sell from the farm, making an OK.
cccdingly heavy draft on tho fertility Of
the soil for very limited money return.
The money value OF the elements OF plant
food contained In ton Of timothy hay Is
~. Is, In ton Of clover hay, sa2g We
cannot afford 10 90 into the market and
buy the chemicals which will produce
these goods for the sums mentioned.
From the present information, for our
soil ! would use timothy, meadow icscue,
meadow ioxtail, and possibly English rye
grass, and In about the order OF preference
m named. Orchard grass has had con-
siderable trial In our State, and we have
received many favorable reports, some
pricrring Il TO timothy. Clover was
omitted In the mixture named ] SOW Il
alone, cutting two crops In one year. This
method serves several Indispensable pur.
poses with mo. II extends the time Of
haying and allows the cutting Of meadows
at the right time. regard clover "a about
the most important crop grown In the
State. II can serve is purpose best as a
separate crop in rotation series Many
progressive farmers advocate the use OF
from one-half 10 one bushel Of timothy
seed per acre. These amounts would 10
needed on poor lumpy SOIL but not ON
good soil. The richer and moro finely
pulvcrizcd the soil, the less the seed
required. SOW twelve quarts
Of clover and twelve pounds Of timothy
per acre. Many seeds arr destroyed by
too deep covering. J. J. Thomas found
that nj depth Of one inch all the seeds OF
timothy persisted. S0wn after a Thomas
harrow and brushed in they will be well
covered. The sizes Of seeds give an an.
proximaie measure Of the relative depths
they should bo covered. Henderson makes
the weight per bushcl, aud amount per
acre, II sown alone, as follows