Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1916-07-14
Some Reasons Why The Present
Methods Of Seeding Grass
Should Be CHANGED.


The rush Of harvest will soon
be over and the farmers will turn
their attention to following for !
the purpose of making ready for
the next wheat crop. For many |
years wheat has been recognized
as one of the most profitable
crops that is grown in the VAL
lev, it can not remain so, how
ever. unless the yields are in-
creased. The decreased yields
are due to the deficiency of lime,
phosphorus and humus. The
failure to get clover has done
more to decrease the yields of
grain than any other one thing.
The expression, I'VE can not
get stand of grass as we used
to-" is heard almost daily and
the tendency is to hold the seas
ons responsible for the failure.
| The seasons are not nearly so
responsible for this failure as is
the need for a change IN the
methods of seeding.
In former days, when our soils
were filled with the elements
that are now lacking, it was a
VERY easy matter to get a stand
of grass when seeded with the
small grains. Conditions have
changed, however. and we find
it harder each year to succeed
with the present methods of
seeding grass. The reason for
this is very apparent, the small
lgrains, wheat especially, are
livery hardy plants consequently
when the soil contains only q
i. limited amount of plant food the
;. grains use all of it and the clov
S ers perish.
I'll If the farmer will take his pen
fl Gil and paper and figure for {;
OF little while he will soon be con
WINGED that our methods mus
r. be changed somewhat if we ar
h reasonably successful in CROWNS
= grass. Let us consider for few
d moments the rotation that is be
It ing used throughout the Shen
e andoah Valley and one that ha
al been in use for many years. TIL
l. three consecutive grain crops i
le this rotation draw very heavil
G on the supply of phosphorus an
is lime and the continued repetitio
of this rotation has PRACTICAL
g exhausted the supply of these es
s. sentials.
hi The scientist tells us that tin
% total supply of phosphorus in til
,r surface soil on virgin land varie
<. from 400 to 5000 pounds pc
y acre, a supply sufficient to las
ID only for from so to 200 years, ye
q the crops in our rotation remov
e annually about 40 pounds an
have been doing this since til
adoption of this rotation.
1t is high time something wa
being done to bring about
n change in our methods of SEED
!. ing grass. The method give
II below is one that has been sue
if cessfully used by a number Q
A our best farmers and l hope t
p see it adopted by many of tn
. farmers of Shenandoah County.
l. Disc or pillow land from whicI
y the crop of wheat has been take
f as soon as possible, apply on
!, ton of caustic lime or two ton
of ground limestone per acre an
g cultivate frequently until abou
q the first of August. Then ap
= lply from 400 to 600 pounds o
TO per cent. acid phosphate an,
d seed a mixture composed of
+ pounds of timothy, pounds O
i red clover or sapling clover ant
) pounds of alfalfa. The alfalf;
O is recommended for inocula tiot
purposes.
i Repeated experiments have
I shown conclusively that the bes,
time for seeding the common
lgrasses and clovers in this State
is during the month of August,
, from the LIST to the goth to be
, preferred. B. A. WARR1NER,
County Agent.