The midland journal., 1916-07-28
SEEDING WITHOUT A
NURSE CROP URGED
Results From Seeding Timothy Alone
Indicate Improved Quality And
Larger Hay Yields.
NICHOLAS SCHMITz
Maryland Agricultural Experiment
Station.

Where the old way Of seeding timo-
thy does not give satisfactory results
the only remedy Is sowing the timothy,
or timothy and clover, alone in early
fall, not with a grain crop. The plan
is to seed the wheat without the timo
thy in the fall and the clover in the
spring; then, as soon as possible after
harvest the stubble should be plowed
down and very firm, finely -pulverized
seedbed prepared. This, to be sure,
will involve an extra plowing and pre-
pairing Of the seedbed, but the In
creased yield and quality Of hay more
than pays for the extra labor. A full
crop will be ready for cutting the next
June or July, which will be the same
time as If 1t had been seeded with
the wheat, the stubble of which was
plowed down. Timothy may also fol-
low such crops as early potatoes, early
tomatoes, cowpeas cut for hay, etc.
Method OF Seeding Alone.
If fertilizer is sown with the grass,
then seeding with the grain drill as
when sowing with wheat in the fall, is
I by far the most economical way OF
Nseeding. But the chances for getting
a perfect stand are greatly increased
IL the seed is dropped behind the hoes
and light harrow or weeder run over
the field for covering. On soils not
subject to much washing or baking
after heavy rains, the seed may be
dropped in front of the hoes and
roller run over the field to assist in
covering. This firms the soil around
the seed and brings the moisture to
the surface, which adds greatly to the
chances Of getting good stand.
Where fertilizer is not sown with
the grass the seeding can be done
more quickly with a wheel-barrow
seeder, covering with spike-tooth
harrow or weeder, and, wherever con-
ditions permit, following with the
roller.
Rate OF Seeding.
Except under the most favorable
soil conditions, it Is advisable to mix
in q little redtop. This is especially
true on sandy. poor, or wet land, be-
: cause redtop will grow where timothy
will not; care. however, must be taken
not to use too much redtop, lest i'll
crowd out the timothy and decrease
the market value Of the hay.
When sowing timothy alone, Is
- ~n1ro na% oown uhn ha
used when sowing with redtop, IL
pounds of timothy and 2 or pounds
Of redtop (recleaned seed) should be
used. When seeded with red clover,
10 pounds of timothy and 6 to 8 pounds
Of red clover is sufficient If red clover
has not been succeeding well, to 9
5 pounds of alsike clover should be sub
stituted for the red clover
On fairly fertile, wellllimed soil, 1t is
a good plan to cut down the red or
alsike clover to about half the given
rate and add to pounds of alfalfa.
There Is no better way than this Of
inoculating the land for alfalfa.
When the land is known to be in
oculated, alfalfa may be substituted
entirely for the clover, using Is pounds
per acre. In this case the Arst cut
ting in the spring will be timothy
and alfalfa, and after this two medium
sized crops of alfalfa may be secured
n favorable season. A good all
around mixture for heavy seeding is:
Timothy ...............S lbs.
Redtop ................2 lbs.
Red Clover .............6 lbs.
Tor Alsike Glover, lbs.)
Alfalfa ,................4 lbs.