The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-10-17
MEADOWS AND PASTURES.
Suggestions as to Sowing and Mixing
Seeds.

as general thing it is much better
to have mixture of grasses than to
rely on only one. There are one or
two notable exceptions, however;
and especially in the case of Bermu-
da grass, no attempt should be made
70 combine the growth of any other
plant with it and it is not permissi,
BILE as rule with Lucerne or burr
clover-two plants that are very diff
ferent in their habits and use. AS
time elapses it may be found desira-
BILE in the way of rejuvenating old
meadows or pastures to add plants
OF a differerent habit, that either al
ternate as to time of growth or that
vary considerably in their ash ele-
ment. In our climate we have a
number OF indigenous Cor at any
rate thoroughly acclimated) plants
that will compete for mastery with
any new grasses or clover that we
may seed our lands with. And in
making sowing Of these latter it is
very important that the soil be thor
oughly prepared and tertilized and
enough seed used to insure a prompt
catch and occupancy of the soil so
that the useless weeds and undesir-
able native grasses be forestalled.
In spite of all care mary weeds will
spring up the first year, and these
must -ho pulled mp or moved down
before seed are FEATURED. To insure
a start on the weeds it is very desir-
able to sow such plants as will allow
OF 1t in the fall of the year instead
of waiting for spring. The advan-
tage is altogether on the side of fall
seedlings. In seeding to grasses or
clover it is better to SOW just: double
the quantity that is usually recon-
mended in the books. Allowance
must be made for many defective
seed when purchased of the average
seedman and many young plants
will die out from the effects of insects
and the heaving of the soil from
freezes. Any overcrowding Of plants
is easily recti6ed by nature, though
she may not be able to supply vacan-
cies at once. We have been a wit
ness to numerous failures in grass
and grain culture from poor prepa-
aration of the soil and too thin seed
ing. In establishing permanent
meadows and pastures it should be
remembered that the work is to
stand for many years and the foun-
dations should be laid accordingly
not in wood, but in granite. The
quick preparation and hasty sowing
that answers tolerabIe well in the
case of an annual sowing of rye or
oats or fodder corn will not suffice
when we come to SOW the valuable
grasses that are to endure for a gen.
Grafton, Flowing and cross-plowing
and narrowing must be resorted to
to get the soil in fine mechanical
condition. A quick acting manure
free from weeds and native grass
seed, should be used, and finally a
plenty Of clean, sound grass or clov-
err seed sown, which are to be cover.
ed simply by rolling the land. Dc
not attempt to pillow or harrow them
in, though smoothing harrow is Of
tentimes used for the purpose. Roll,
ing is the better plan; the narrowing
should be done before seeding, ap
plying the necessary fertilizer before
narrowing. A good ammoniatet
phosphate or its equivalent in cot.
ton seed meal and plain phosphate
or bone dust should be used. Stable
manure is not suitable owing to the
various noxious weeds that it will
add to the soil. After the meadow
or pasture has become established
firmly it may be resorted to as a tor
dressing applied in the winter; but
even then there are more appropri.
ate fertilizers for them; for instance.
nitrate soda OF sulpbate of ammonia
combined wife the mineral elements
pastures and meadows mnst receive
an application of manure at intervals
in proportion to the quality of the
land and the quantity of crop taker
from it. Drainage must not bt
ouor lOOEa1 o;4bou -, -, - 49, L.