The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-03-22


is prepared the previous fall the seed
can be sown very early in the spring,
and the plants will become we'll estab-
lished before the hot dry weather be-
gins. II 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-
generations, some OF which are
made up of 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, constant succession of fresh
succulent grasses. The evil in a mix
ture is that sometimes there is In it
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.
| l 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 pounds per acre.
| Perennial Rye Grass sOwn At the
rate OF pounds per acre.
Meadow Fescue sown at the rate
Of pounds per acre.
Red Glover sown at tho rate OF 2
pounds per acre.
Rep Top sown at the rate of 6
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.
per acre.
This mixture Is adapted to well
drained soils, and has been tested by
great many farmers in these sec
tons 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 pounds per acre.
Bronze Grass sown at the rate Of 5
pounds per acre.
White Glover sown at the rate Of
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 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
pounds per acre.
Alsike Glove sown at the rate OF
pounds per acre.
White Glover sown at the rate of
pounds per acre.
1t may be thought that we have
used here very large amount OF
seed. In practice, however it is
nearly impossible to get perfect dis
tribution of seeds, and equally impos
sible to get them covered uniformly
so that one can count only on very
small percentage of termination. In
seeding grasses 1t 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 thai
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 bt
taken to prevent getting the seed toe
deep. Blue grass especially, requires
the very lightest covering. | know
too, many farmers who advise seedins
these grasses always with nurse
crop. II he will SOW one bushel tC
the acre of spring barley, selecting 6
short strawed strong variety that VII
not lodge and then cut early, he vii
be providing shade for the youns
grasses and can almost absolutely de
pend upon success.
1t will be observed after year o.
two that some of the grasses are in
creasing and some are becoming ex
ltlnti. II Will Dt iOuiN, WV S'Oi~'
wise practice early in the spring al
the snow is disappearing, to plant thu
seed of those grasses that are disap
pearing and then to loosen the grass
sod by the use Of sharp tooth har
, row. 1t Is a mistake to feel that thu
pasture does not need fertilization
Pasture should be covered at leas
every other year with coating OF vel
= rotted barnyard manure, and this thor
oughly narrowed so as to give evei
distribution, early in the spring. Al
, rule we have a few days in Febru
I airy when this work can be done K
| advantage. Another mistake In hand
ling pastures is to give the animal
the free use of the entire pasture
The best practice demands that Their
shall be at least two or three held
TO avoid close grazing. The cattl'