The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-06-07

In many sections the fall seeding of
timothy will prove success if the
conditions are favorable, says w. A.
Henry, Of the Madison, Wis, expert
ment station. First of all there must
be "a sufficient amount of moisture in
the soil to not only sprout the seed,
but maintain the young tender grass
plants as they begin to grow. An ideal
seed can be formed by blowing stubble
land early and cultivating it every
time the weeds have started well,
then killing the young weed plants
with the shallow cultivation before
they have had time to get any hold ON
the soil. Following for Il few weeks
in this way will firm the soil beneath
and leave a fine seed bed almost free
from weeds Of an inch or two in depth.
Timothy seed sown broadcast or with
seeder, and put in with a light drag
will make a fine stand under such Cir
cumstanCes. Sometimes the stubble
fields are very free from weeds, and
no blowing is needed, but one or two
harrowings will stir the soil sufficient
ly to allow the seed to catch. In order.
to get the best stand I should prefer
blowing and thorough preparation.
There is perhaps no part of general
farming less. understood than the use
of nurse crops for grasses and clo
verS. Farmers ask me again and again
when. recommending the sowing of clo-
Yer and grass seeds by themselves if
the young plants will not burn up with
the sun unless some grain, like oats,
barley, wheat or rye are sOWn for pro-
lection. Let us look into this a little:
Where one of these grains is sown to-
gether with grass and clover, one or
both, the roots from the grain plant
soon reach deep into the soil consider
ably below the roots of the young grass
or clover. If there is plenty of mois-
ture both grow together nicely; if there
is a lack, the grain roots being the
deepest get the moisture, taking it from
the grass or clover roots, and the latter
plants die if the supply is cut off for
any length Of time. The truth Of the
matter is, these so-called nurse crops"
are a great hindrance to the grasses
and clovers, and only when there is
moisture for both do both succeed.
We have never failed yet getting a
good stand of cloverS and grasses when
we have sOwn them alone in the spring
while frequently both clover and tim
othy have failed to give a good "catch"
when SOWn with grain because the
young plants died out in hot, dry
weather.
And so, for fall seeding Of timothy,
/ advise sowing the grass seed alone,
. or possibly clover with it, though the
clover may be left until the following
spring. If there is moisture and the
ground is in order the tender grass
plants will grow with wonderful rap
idity and soon the field will be green
as green as if winter wheat were sown
and gain plenty of strength to with
stand the winters freezing and tina W.
ing.
In sowing grasses by themselves
weeds come up drawing out moisture
and shading the young plants. To
check these run a mower over the field,
setting the cutter bar high. The grass
plants will soon gain a victory over the
weeds with this treatment.
I have seen timothy sown success
fully on well prepared ground with
turnips harvested. This will only do
where there is plenty Of moisture for
both and the soil rich and favorable.
[ have also seen a corn field cult
waited with level cultivation and tim
Othy seed sown between the corn
rows. in August. and a good stand Sc
cured. Here, too. there must be plenty
of moisture, and it is necessary to- cut
the stalks Of corn level with the ground
that they may not interfere with the
mower the next season. In many
parts of the country timothy will sue
coed best when soWn in the fall.