Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-03-07
Sowing Grass and Glover.

they are the beginning and the end
ing Of the necessary rotation; they
are the cheapest of all farm products,
they are indispensable to the profit
able cultivation Of the soil. Hence
by whatever means they may be
made more certain and productive
becomes an important subject for con-
sideration at this time. The methods
of agriculture are improving, old
things and ways are passing away
and new methods are found necessa-
ry to meet the close competition and
the constantly increasing burdens
which confront the farmer.
Heretofore the culture of what is
generally termed the grass crops has
been of the most careless character.
No adequate preparation of the land
has been made, and the seed has been
cast on the ground, or the snow, to
take all the chances whether it may
succeed or perish, with large bal
ance in favor of the latter. Conse-
quently, failures to more or less eX>
tent have been general, and the
yields of this most important crop
have averaged no more than one>
third or one-fourth of what they
might and should have been. A very
little figuring, which readers may
easily do for themselves, will prove
that these crops are really the most
profitable Of all that are grown, Yields
ing several hundred per cent. upon
the cost, and in addition adding an
equal value in the improvement of
the land, when they are made as
productive as they might be.
Nothing can be produced without
skillful and judiciOus labor, every
part of which will count for the end
in view. Every farmer knows that
seed cannot grow without fitting
soil and a sufficient covering that it
may push its roots safely and effect
ually into the earth, and a very little
thought will satisfy him that seed
cast upon the snow or upon the sur
face of the ground in early spring
must run many and serious risks of
failure to secure these necessary cons
ditiOns for growth. The method
may happen to succeed, but there is
no assurance of it. Numerous event.
ualitieS are liable, nay, are certain, to
occur which may lead to failure; but
when seed is sown on well-prepared
soil, and is covered to safe depth
and protected against all risks, the
growth of the seed and the safety OF
the young plants are almost certainly
assured. The only risk, then, is such
continuance of unfavOrable wealth
er as will injure all other crops, and
which cannot be foreseen or avoided
When one has done all he can and
has exhausted industry and skill, he
has done all his duty and may reas,
Onably expect success, which will Sc
rarely be missed that it is hardly
worth while to consider the risk Of
failure.
The great bane ofgrass (and clover,
growing is that so few farmers study
the necessities of the case. One farm
er who is prominently known for sue
Cessful work reports an excellent croE
from seed sown upon the snow,a late
fall of it, on the opening of the spring
or upon the ground covered with
young fall-sown grain. Unfortunate
ly this is only the smallest part of the
story. He does not tell of his liberia
manuring, his well-tilled soil, anC
the well chosen time, when to hi
experienced eye and good judgmen
he sees that every requisite condition
is afforded by the condition of thu
land to take in the seed and cover it
and afford it ample nutriment t
give it strength to resist every acci
dent of season and weather. Others
reading of his reported success, with
out knowing of these ample prepare
tons sow their seed, and it fails t
grow because the soil is not prepared
for it.
Thousands of farmers thus becom,
misled or mislead themselves TO
want of intelligent thought and stud.
ofprinciples upon which the success
full sowing and termination of seeC
depends and by ignoring the fac
that time and season must be met b.
concurrent conditions of soil ant
preparation of it to insure final sue
cess.
Grass seed requires finely pulver
lied soil, well supplied with necessa