The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-07
PREPARING FOR THE HAY CROP.
How and When to Sow-The Two Methods
Notwithstanding With Grain.

How and When to Sow-The Two Methods
Notwithstanding With Grain.
At meeting of New England farm
ers in Boston, Mr.. Warren Brown of
New Hampshire read an exhaustive es-
say on the hay crop of New England.
This was reported in full by the Mas
sachusetts Ploughman. Following are
some abstracts therefrom of pertinent
interest:
AS to the time for sowing the seed,
opinions vary. Some wonld get the land
ready in the fall and put on the seed
lust as the ground closes up for the sea-
son. Others would sow in March or as
early as the old snow has disappeared.
And if the ground is covered with a
light snow all the better, as they are
thus enabled to distribute the seed more
evenly. There is really but little differ
ence in the two methods mentioned, as
the seed is not expected to start and
grow until the season is far enough adj
yanced to cause the seeds to terminate.
By starting early in the season the young
grass becomes established and is not in
iured by the dry weather which may
come later in the season. There is little
danger of not getting a good stand of
grass when this method is pursued, as
all the conditions for success arc favor
able, more so than when any other sea-
son is chosen for this work.
When seed is sown at either of the
times mentioned, there will be no need
of narrowing to cover the seed, as the
action of frost, rain and melting SHOWS
will cover the seed enough. Great care
should be used to have the surface made
smooth in the fall. When the land be
comes dry enough in spring so as not to
be injured by a team, the field should
be rolled. Lands sown in this way will
produce a crop the first year not as
heavy as in after years and may be
more OF less weedy, but it will be found
to be good hay to feed out. The second
year will usually find heavy crop Of
clean hay, which will continue for a
length of time varying with the condi-
ton of the land and its after care and
attention.
When lands that are used in rotation
with crops are seeded, it is usually done
in April or May with some kind of a
grain crop, which may ripen crop OF
grain, OF it is cut in green state and
made into hay. Of late years the latter
course has been more generally pursued.
and it is considered more favorable to
the young grass where the grain is not
allowed to ripen. | have had good sue
cess in sowing rye and cutting as soon
as it is fairly headed, making it in
to hay. The oat crop is considered one
of the poorest to seed with grass, but l
have always had good success when seed
ing with rye. When grass is sown in
spring with grain, it is common to sow
clover, which usually gives one or two
heavy crops the next year and prepares
the land for a good stand of the other
grasses which follow. The nature and
manner of growth of clover render it
of great value in a system of rotation,
and it should never be omitted IT one
wishes to make permanent improve
ment of his farm. In seeding perma-
ncnt meadow, timothy and red top are
usually sown. From peck to half a
bushel of the former and three pounds
of the clear red top to the acre are
about the usual quantity sown. l
have found alsike clover valuable crop
when sown with the other grasses. The
: orchard grass is favorite with some
farmers. The advantages claimed for
it are that it will grow in shady places,
it will fully occupy the ground to the
exclusion of undesirable growth and
weeds, and it is not easily killed out.
My experience with it has not been salts
factory.
Eardeu VTeeder.