The Portland daily press., 1895-07-29
suMMEa PREPARATION FOR GRASS.
A Practical Talk by a New England
Farmer an an Important Topic.

Practical Talk by New England
Farmer an an Important Topic.
There is a very general impression
that a piece of ground must be plowed
and cropped before it may be proftably
seeded, even though it be needed for
moving. This is all mistake, accord
ing to practical and successful New
England farmer, who is reported by
The Farm Journal as saying: Nothing
on the farm pays SO we'll and costs SO
little as the hay crop, if-and here
comes in the key to profit in both this
and other things--if it be properly
grown. One-half to quarters of a
ton per acre will damage any man., not
because the grass may not make good
hay, bat because it costs nearly as
much to produce it as to grow and har-
vest three tons per acre. Let us suppose
taxes, fencing and harvesting amount
to $40 per acre, and nothing is said
about fertilizing, two plots of equal fer
tility being chosen, one well seeded and
the other lacking grass plants If one
yields two tons, the hay virtually costs
that year but So per ton The three
quarter ton per acre crop costs $13.32
per ton. Which kind Of hay can you bet
ter afford to feed where you are making
2 cent milk? 1t is no trouble to decide.
Why do SO many Of us think it nee
essary to crop every plowed sod from
one to four years before seeding? To get
manure into the soil, or from habit
very largely The latter is the reason,
fear. Let those who have never tried it
take in hand some Of their thin grass
land this summer and as soon as posi-
BILE after moving it plow, roll, harrow
and roll it until fined. Then for week
or two while haying is being completed
it may rest and rot. But do not let it
alone long. With sharp Acme or Cut
away go over it each week until Sep
tember, killing every sign of vegetation.
When cooler, moister weather begins,
seed to herds grass, using not less than
eight quarts per acre. Be sure to smooth
out every wrinkle, level every knoll and
fill every cradle hole, using float drag
before seeding. Then bush and leave it
perfect for the mower, picking or roll
ing In every cobblestone.
In January Or February SOW ten
pounds Of sound clover seed-not later
The severe cold will not harm it, while
the deep crevices made in the frost baked
earth will swallow it and keep it safe
until the freezes of late spring cannot
harm it. When it does appear above
ground, it will have already grown a
strong root and will go to work vigor-
ously. Glover sown in March Or April
comes up quickly because of shallow
covering, and if it escapes the late frosts
its shallow growth is often burned to
death by the blazing days following the
first moving. Here is land well Guilt
waited, well seeded and productive at
slight cost It has not been robbed by
cultivated crops nor idle on expense.
The plan permits the hauling of manure
upon the soil between August harrow
ings or cheaply by sled as topdressing
in winter. Fall plowing sometimes
serves for seeding, but is risky, much
depending upon the season. No CROP
pays better than grass for the manure
used, but it may be very far from CHEAP
hay if the yield be small Rich soil
we'll seeded will make farmer well tc
do, while land just over the fence may
run his neighbor in debt. Which side o1
the fence are you going to be?