The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-09-24
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AORICULTURiSTS-
Some up-to-Dste Hints About cuitiva-
ton of the Soil and Yields Thereof
HORTICULTURE. yiticuIturs aud Eioricul-
ture.

Seeding Lawns and Permanent Pastures
Press Bulletin 220 of the Ohio Ex-
pertinent Station says: Many inquiries
are received at the Ohio Experiment
Station for information respecting the
best grasses for lawns and permanent
pastures and for instructions In seed
ing. The station has successfully es-
tablished several lawns by the follow
ing method: AS soon as the GROUND
is dry enough to work In the spring IL
is plowed and thoroughly pulverizeu
by narrowing and cross-harrowing IN
til in the condition of garden. IN
less the soil is very rich 1t should De
made SO, either by the liberal use Oh
manure or of a complete tertlilzer, tne
latter being preferable because OF tne
seeds of weeds and coarse grasses usu-
ally carried in manure. For lawn
purposes the fertilizer should carry
to 6 per cent of nitrogen, to ~ per
cent phosphoric acid and to per
cent potash, and should be used at the
rate of 500 to 800 pounds per acre.
mixture of equal weights OF Ken
lucky blue grass and red top, with
pound of white clover seed to bushei
of the mixture, is then sown broadcast
at the rate of two or more bushels per
acre of the mixed seed, and narrowed
in with a fine toothed harrow. IL the
ground should be very dry it may be
rolled as part Of the preparation Tor
sowing. but the finishing touch should
always be given with smoothing mar
row. or other fne-toothed harrow, as
this leaves the surface in such condl-
ton as not to be so liable to be injuri-
ously packed by rain as IL hnlsnea
with the roller.
The reason for mixing the Kentucky
blue grass with red top is that the
two grasses mature at different sea-
sons, the red top reaching maturity
some weeks later than the blue grass,
thus keeping up a better succession
through the season, while the blue
grass is better adapted to the dryer
and the red top to the moister por-
lions of the land. The clover is not
only useful in thickening the sod, but
by its ability to gather nitrogen il
assists the growth of grasses with
which it is sown.
For permanent pastures no better
grasses have been found by the Ohio
station than the varieties above rec
commended for lawns. Sown together
they give a succession throughout the
season and adapt themselves to differ
ences in soil, thus giving much better
results than if either be sown alone
The seed of these grasses is relativel.
expensive, however, and it is more eco
nomical to reduce the quantity of see'
of these varieties and substitute
moderate quantity of red clover AM
timothy seed. The first year afte
seeding the crop may be chiefly clover
and should be mown for hay. The sec
ond year it will be chiefly timothy
and after that the timothy will grad
ually disappear and the pasture grasse
take it's place. By this method c
seeding not only will the first cost b
reduced, but the clover will serve
most useful purpose in preparing tn
way for the grasses which are to TO
low. A mixture of equal weights {
clover and timothy, sown at the rat
of a bushel to six or eight acres, an
cross-sowp with half bushel to
bushel to the acre of mixed blue gras
and red top, the whole narrowed
together, will make a fair seeding.
the case of pastures, as well as
lawns, the land should be manure
or fertilized if not already rich, an
here manure is the better material,
it can be obtained.
All old pastures or lawns shou
have an occasional dressing OF manu-
or fertilizer. The object lessons
the scattered cattle droppings on Il
pastures demonstrate this point e
fectively. Such treatment will oft,
thicken up the grass in an old Law
without re-seeding, but if bare spo
3 have made their appearance it W
: sometimes assist matters to apply
5 dressing of air Stacked lime, at t
r rate of bushel to the square 70
t work it into the surface with a sha
I harrow, and after few weeks reese
/ as for new lawn.