The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-12-01
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AGRlCULTURlSTS
Some up-to-Dats Hints About Gull
ovation Of the Soil and Yields
Observation-Disclosures. vitloulture and
HORTICULTURE
Seeding Grass Land.

The practice Of sowing grass and
eloverseed with crops of grain is a
very common one, and undoubtedly
has many advantages in rich soils and
in a favorable season, the most mark
ed Of which is the choking out of weeds
by the vigorous growth of tile grain,
says Pennsylvania Farmer. In many
cases, however, this method fails. "A
bulletin Of the department of agricul-
ture points out the fact that this is
especially true in dry seasons when
the supply of moisture is frequently
insufficient for both the grain crop
and the grass. In this case the grain
instead of acting as a nurse crop ac-
tually robs the young grass plants OF
moisture, and thus becomes injurious
instead Of advantageous. The claim
that grass and clover plants need pro-
lection from the sun is pronounced
by the same authority to be entirely
without foundation. AS the Wiscon-
sin station has shown, there is abso-
lutely no necessity, under ordinary con-
ditions, for sowing oats, barley or any
other grain with grasses for the pur-
pose of yielding shade and protection.
Young grass and clover plants are not
injured by direct sunlight and sun heat
any more than other plants OF our
fields" Experiments by the Wisconsin
station during number of years have
shown that grasses and clover sown
by themselves on properly prepared
soil spring up at once and make rapid
growth, bearing seed heads the same
year. If all conditions as to fertility
of soil, moisture, ETC., are favorable,
a very excellent crop of hay can be
secured the same season." One objec-
ton to this method of seeding grasses
is the presence of weeds, but these
can usually be checked by running a
mower over the fields when the weeds
are six or more inches high, setting
the cutter bar so that the tops of the
weeds are removed while the grass
plants are not touched.
In order that this method of culture
may be successful the soil must be
quite free from weed seeds and of fair
fertility. 1t should be carefully pre-
pared before seeding, and from two
to three times the usual amount Of
grass seed should be sown. 1t is prob
ably best, although not fully demon
strated, to SOW seed very early in the
spring. Finally. it is of the greatest
Importance to check the growth of
weeds. which may be done by tie
method noted above. The system here
under consideration is not put forth as
suited to every farm and all farmers.
but eminently adapted to meeting the
wants of those who desire to secure
with the least possibility of failure a
fine stand of grass and clover. To such
We can recommend the system as hav-
ing been sufficiently tried to prove sat-
isfactory when properly followed out. /"
The results obtained by the Wiscon-
sin station have in general been borne
out by those of similar experiments
at the New Jersey station. The ex-
periments by this station, however,
differed from those conducted by the
Wisconsin station in the fact that at
the former the seed was sown in the
fall instead of in the spring.