The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-04-11
What is the Best Course to Pursue tc

What is the Best Course to Pursue to
Get Better Grass Sets ?''-This was the SUBJ
ject discussed at the last meeting of the Junior
Gunpowder Agricultural Club. We append
the views of some of the members:
Mr.. Thomas V. Richardson said: II have found
that alske clover is surer than red clover.
have been fairly successful with red clover 1
think the use of lime and muriate of potash are
needed for grass sets. have not tried fall SOW
ing of clover, nor narrowing the ground after
Clover GENERALLY comes up I'VE we'll but dies out
from the heat of summer. It not all in getting
grass set, as last spring we had one of the best
prospects for hay and yet the crop was about
the poorest ever known. think it we'll to pas
ture new sets of grass as the field is in better
condition than If not pastured. I have sowed
orchard grass with oats and also with other
grasses. Will not SOW with oats again. l sowed
on wheat ground and got good set of orchard
grass; then sOwed orchard grass and red top
suits in the spring. 1t is one of the best for
late pasture. 1t is easy to sprout. When sown
alone two bushels should be sown. White clio
yer is a volunteer grass and cattle relish it. 1t
has started well this spring. 1t is valuable"
Mr.. ID. 8. Pearce said Il think to get good sets
of grass the soil should be thoroughly Guilt
waited and, as far as possible, good seed bed
should be prepared. / will try top dressing
ground for corn and then set in grass. 1 do not
see that grass would be any more filthy after
corn than after any other crop. The three-year
rotation of crops would then be followed The
best set of grass was when oats, orchard and
all were narrowed in. When the oats reached q
fair height it was pastured. In sowing grass
seed it is generally done behind the drill.
Mr.. William b. Curry said my experience
has not been satisfactory. Idon't know enough
to state why l failed. Years ago my ground
years had not much success. My new expert
enee in seeding i sowing clover with the ttmo-
Mr.. George E. Shelley said Thorough Guilt
walton of the soil is important. 1t is not so
hard to get a set of timothy as clover. We may
be successful sowing grass alone. The time of
sowing grass seed makes difference in set
two weeks earlier sowing will give good results.
Fertilizers should be used. The system of Mr..
D. s. Pearce might be successful. / have put
lime out as much as 30 bushels per acre on pas
ture land with but little benefit on after crops.
In another place the lime acted favorably. The
best way to apply it is on plowed ground. 1t is
supposed to be the foundation for grass SETS"
Mr. Lewis NJ. Bacon said: II SOW grass seed as
most farmers, but one year sowed clover in the
corn. l will not do so again as unfavorable re-
suits followed. Much depends on the season
for good results, which we cannot control. My
spring sowing in oats took far better than the
fall seeding. think Mr.. George Clark, of Con-
necticut, has the right idea: frequent tillage
and sunlight rather than lime. have applied
lime but have not seen any benefit from It in
grass or anything else. 1t Is great labor to
apply lime. Having az acres of grass failure 1
propose to SOW the land in peas. If cannot
save the vines for ensilage or hay will pillow
them under. giving the soil vegetable matter"
Mr.. T. v. Richardson said II think Mr.. Ba-
cons pea business will please him. The very
fact of the peas growing brings up the plant
food. Peas will make fine hay and stock will do
well on it. Cows do best on pea hay. The seed
should be sown the last of May, If the weather is
warm. advise making hay and ensilage of the
crop. Use no fertilizer on the land. 1 have
seen good grain to follow, after the hay was re-
moved. and good results have been obtained
from pasturing the vines, think it would be
better to put energy on growing peas than al
falfa. Believing In lime and potash for grass
prefer applying lime on plowed ground so as to
work it in the soil.''
Mr.. Laban Sparks said 1.-THE season is the
greatest factor in the setting of grass. We can
not control the weather. 1t used to be that
sets. My father used great deal of plaster and
usually had good grass
Mr.. W. d. Curry said: II have worked lime in
the soil and realized no benefit from it. While
my grass was light yet have some timothy hay
to sell, the, hay, not being as good for cows as
% acres"
Mr.. G. d. Price said "Our land needs lime
for clover. My plan is to lime and manure one
or two years ahead for corn. 1 have seen great
benefit from lime on clover"
Mr.. T. M. Pearce said: II think the reason
grass too severely and not enough vegetable
matter gets into the SOIL Lime, / think, is ne
cessary for clover. have sown some slaked lime
and good came from it,
Mr.. b. Nj. Brooks said: II have sown potash
and dissolved bone on land in grass set and
found no difference in effect"
MIR. Jacob NJ. Pearce said: II find 1t important
to get good set of grass to harrow over the
grain after the seed is sown. l have used the
spring-tooth harrow on wheat with no serious
results to it. / have tried sowing alfalfa for
three years, but have not succeeded with it."