Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-02-23

that on irrigated land we secure best
results by spring seeding. If the land
is prepared the previous fall the seed
can be sown very early in the spring,
and the plants will become well estab-
lished before the hot dry weather be-
gins. 1t should be remembered that
one can hardly sow grass seed too
early in the spring.
The Mixture to Select.
Many of the grass mixtures given
out by the seed houses are silly con-
glomerations, some of which are
made up of a few good varieties and
then poor ones thrown in simply to
throw chaff into the eye of the Gus
toner. However, there are many ad-
vantages in mixtures rather than
single seed. Some grasses start very
early in the spring, while others do
not begin until late in the summer,
and there are scarcely two grasses
that have the same time of growth.
By combining them we have, there
fore, a constant succession of fresh
succulent grasses The evil in mix
ture is that sometimes there is in 1t
grass of inferior quality, and that
one will be neglected and the others
grazed, so that after a time the in
ferior grass is left in the ascendancy.
| have tested a number of different
mixtures on various soils and have
found the following mixtures OF
grasses an excellent one for the in
termountain sections:
Kentucky Blue Grass sown at the
rate of 6 pounds per acre.
| Perennial Rye Grass sown at the
rate of mounds Der acre.
Meadow Fescue sown at the rate
of 3 pounds per acre.
Red Glover sown at the rate of 2
pounds per acre.
Rep Top sown at the rate of G
pounds per acre.
Orchard Grass sown at the rate OF
3 pounds per acre.
White Glover sown at the rate of 2
pounds per acre.
/ Alfalfa sown at the rate of pounds
per acre.
This mixture is adapted to well
drained soils, and has been tested ny
great many farmers in these sec.
tions with excellent results. For
light sandy soils the following mix
ture is recommended:
| Kentucky Blue Grass sown at the
rate of 8 pounds per acre.
Meadow Fescue sown at the rate of
6 pounds per acre.
Tall Meadow Oats sown at the rate
of 5 pounds per acre.
| Bronze Grass sown at the rate of 5
pounds per acre.
| White Clover sown at the rate OF 2
pounds per acre.
| Where lands are low and moist
and where drainage is not possible,
the following mixture of grasses has
given good results:
Perennial Rye Grass sown at the
rate of 8 pounds per acre.
Red Top sown at the rate of 10
pounds per acre.
Rhode Island Bent sown at the rate
of pounds per acre.
| Meadow Fescue sown at the rate of
2 pounds per acre.
Timothy sown at the rate of 2
pounds per acre.
Alsike Glove, sown at the rate of 2
pounds per acre.
White Glover sown at the rate of 2
pounds per acre.
| 1t may be thought that we have
used here a very large amount of
seed. In practice, however, 1t is
nearly impossible to get perfect dis
tribution of seeds, and equally impos-
|
SO that one can count only on very
small percentage of termination. In
seeding grasses it is extremely i'm
portant to get the seed evenly
distributed. Ordinarily one gets the
best results with the use OF
those seeders with wing discs that
throw the machine on either side, the
men walking and turning the seed by
hand. The wheelbarrow seeder also
gives good results. Drills, of course
are most efficient. but care must be
taken to prevent getting the seed too
deep. Blue grass especially, requires
the very lightest covering. l know,
too, many farmers who advise seeding
these grasses always with nurse
crop. If he will SOW one bushel to
the acre of spring barley, selecting a
short strawed strong variety that will
not lodge and then cut early, he will
be providing shade for the young
grasses and can almost absolutely de-
pend upon success.
It will be observed after a year or
two that some of the grasses are in
lcreasing and some are becoming ex-
tinct It will be found, therefore,
wise practice early In the spring as
the snow is disappearing, to plant the
| Seeu OI IuOSS BIdb6Co bhoh dAC NAooP
pearing and then to loosen the grass
sod by the use of sharp tooth har.
row. 1t Is a mistake to feel that the
pasture does not need fertilization
Pasture should be covered at least
every other year with coating OF well
rotted barnyard manure, and this thor.
oughly narrowed SO as to give even
distribution, early In the spring. AS
rule we have a few days In Febru-
airy when this work can be done to
advantage. Another mistake in hand
ling pastures is to give the animals
the free use of the entire pasture
The best practice demands that there
shall be at least two or three fields
to avoid close grazing. The cattle
should be kept out OF one field while
it is being irrigated, and the grass
allowed to obtain good start. BY
changing cattle around in differen,
fields, there is less waste with the
grasses and there Is decided adj
vantage gained by way of permitting
the grasses to get a good start.
| | am very strongly of the opinion
that pastures seeded along the lines
suggested here will be the most prof
table part of the farm.
| Concluded next week.
/ No Real Poet Ever Did.