Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-26
SOWING AND MAINTAINING GRASS

Fortunate In the farmer or dxirymsn
who has natural grass farm, for al
though large yields Of hay are some
times found In places where the natural
advantages are absent, high and expen-
slve culture is the price paid. We are in
the habit Of maintaining permanent
mowings and consequently must pursue
different method from those who follow
the plan Of rotation. / have seen farms
that were divided into fields of 10 or 70
acres each. The rotation would be
something like this: On one field grass,
another wheat, another oats, another
corn, another pasture. The next year
the moving or grass field would be turn
ed into pasture, the wheat field would
become moving, the oat field would
grow wheat, the corn field oats, and
pasture field corn. So Ii continues year
in and year out. The wheat crop Is the
only one that receives q direct applica-
ton of stable manure.
You will observe that this Is pretty
straight farming. Unfortunately, our
farms require different treatment. To
acquire satisfactory results We are
obliged to cater to the constant demands
Of our wornout hillsides. We must raise
grass where grass will grow, and corn
and potatoes where grass will not grow,
and use for pasture the place where
nothing will grow. We watch our priu-
cipal moving field or home lot with
more than psternal care. About the
only way We Can manage 1t Is To pillow
some portion of the field every year and
reseed IL. Ii we feel obliged TO take up
large area, and have not the means 10
fertilize highly, better reseed as early as
possible after the hay has been removed.
But IL we have the means to prepare a
highly fertilized seed bed, good results
IL We can topdress our mowings think
it Is the proper thing To do. Perhaps II
We should have two or three dry seasons
should lose faith, and think the top Of
the ground wasn't the best place In the
world for fertilizers.
Some hold that autumn seeding IL un-
satisfactory for the reason that good re-
suits are so transitory, and that 1t Is bet
ter TO seed after some crop where the
soil had been highly enriched TO n greater
depth than Il possible when seeding over
an inverted sod. On my own farm
think have obtained the most sstisfae-
tory results by seeding on sod, and being
careful TO follow with topdressing the
very next year and TO omit no year
A liberal allowance OF sand
or soil worked through the stables and
into the manure pile makes excellent
material for this purpose. My ex-
perience with commercial fertilizer As
grass grower is quite limited aud some
what unsatisfactory compared with the
outlay.
As TO the variety Of grasses best to
grow, every farmer Ia his own judge. l
sm quite partial TO clover ss hay, when
eau have IL In It's most perfect condition.
| think il will produce more milk aId
more flesh than almost anything else In
the shape of hay, unless | except early
cut fine English, which l. generally ad-
mitted To stand first as milk producing
forage. IL remember rightly, IL Was
my fathers practice 10 use mixture OF
timothy. redtop and clover. L followed
in his footsteps quite number of years,
until | imagined the redtop crowded out
the timothy, so that after n few years
got more rediop than | wanted. Now
seldom SOW anything but timothy and
clover, and | have sometimes caught
myself leaving out the clover, AS am
not always sure 10 raise clover hay after
have sown clover seed. While have
no reason 10 be dissatisfied with my sue
cess in other varieties OF grass, | have
had only partial success with clover
often failing 10 obtain good catch and
A. often losing the stand from the blast
ing effects OF winter.
am stanch believer in early harvest
ing of hay. Almost anything OF grass
nature will make hay that stock will eat
with relish IL cut and well cured In
June While this Is true, IL Is also true
that the choicest Grasses II allowed to
stand month OF six weeks longer may
make nice looking hay that will CON-
IN and a good price in market, but II fed
To milch cows We will find that We are
Obliged 10 supplement with heavier grain
rsiious. One Of the most important
things the hsymsker has 10 consider Is
selecting the right kind Of weather TO
cure the crop sfter il Is grown, for rs
vet We are dependent upon out OF door
conditions Select days that are full OF
sunshine. and nights d,void Of dew. To
make hay IN such weather IL light and
in- Expensive task. The horse rake should
b. In the field early In the afternoon that
the hay may go in windrows while it Is
warm. But little work will be required
rhe next day 10 prepare IL for the barn.
IL we are Obliged TO make hay when
clouds are more prevalent than SUNSHINE,
we work and worry some, and use the
redder more.-New England Homestead