Year: 1878

In establishing meadow lands three points are carefully considered by the intelligent cultivator: First, the prepara- tion of the land second. the selection of suitable seeds for sowing and method of mixing, and third, the proper times of sowing and the best manner of secur- ing good stands.

 The land must be in sufficiently dry condition either naturally or by drain ing, for while many varieties of grass will thrive well on moist land, they do not do their best on wet land. With wet soil it is next to impossible to put the land in @ proper state of tilth, and almost every kind of grass calls for 8 thorough pulverizing of the soil. The roots of grasses are delicate and cannot penetrate hard, dry Jumps of earth, hence if they find these in their way they exhaust their vigor in going round or under them. Nor is this the only ill result that follows from seeding on rough ground; in exact proportion as the clods exist the nourishing elements of the soil are locked up from the use the grass. Also much of the seed fails to find it's way into the soil at all. or on the other hand gets in too deep to ger minate. Last, and by no manner of means least, the soil must be fertile; if not naturally so, it must be made so by a previous crop or other system of fer tilization.

 While the majority of farmers now SOW grass-seed in the early fall many still adhere to spring sowing, and each class has strong arguments in favor of its respective side. There must, indeed, always be difference of opinion on this subject as long as there exists 8 differ ence in the character of soils. Some soils are unquestionably better sown in the spring, while others produce best results from fall sowing. The farmer quickly learns this and will put in his seed accordingly. As 8 rule, however, the verdict is in favor of fall sowing. Both heat and cold are injurious to young grass plants, but of the two it is generally conceded that the droughts of summer do more harm than cold.

 When fall sowing is followed, if the seed IS to go on stubble, most farmers prepare the land and SOW as soon as pos sible after harvest. While numbers SOW grass-seed alone, the majority SOW with some kind of grain but one thing is very essential-let it be sown with what ever it may, the seed must be in the ground long enough before frost to take @ deep root, or much of it will be de- stroyed by cold. Glover, unless sown in August, is usually reserved for spring, many sowing it and other grass-seed mixed 1n the last blowing of late corn.

 The custom now prevails, especially among the farmers of the North and East, of sowing variety of seeds, some putting in as many as 8 dozen different kinds on one meadow. Culti- vators of large meadow lands in the Northwestern and New England States have demonstrated over and over again that the admixture of several varieties increases the yield of grass it secures an early stand, and if the ground fails to suit one species another will flourish and thus cover all vacant spots.

 In selecting seeds for meadows those varieties should be chosen that bloom together, so as to have such as will ripen together; otherwise those cut too green will lose greatly by shrinkage. If intended for pasture, the case is of course reversed then it is best to so arrange as to have 8 succession of ripening crops, that the stock may be supplied through out the year. Another thing to be re- membered is to put down grasses as nearly alike as possible as regards the aftermath.

 If the surface is perfectly smooth be- fore the seeds are sown light pushing will answer, but if not, a roller is prefera- ble. It is generally necessary to roll the land in the spring, especially if it is 8 stiff clay soil, as the frosts are liable to heave up the roots, and unless packed in again the summer droughts destroy the grass.