+----------------------+---------------+----------------+---------------+
| | LIGHT SOIL. | MEDIUM SOIL. | HEAVY SOIL. |
| +------+--------+-------+--------+------+--------+
| |With a|Without |With a |Without |With a|Without |
| | Crop | a Crop | Crop | a Crop | Crop | a Crop |
| +------+--------+-------+--------+------+--------+
| | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. |
|Perennial rye-grass | 12 | 24 | 12 | 24 | 12 | 24 |
|Meadow fox-tail | 1¼ | 2½ | 2 | 4 | 3¼ | 6½ |
|Timothy-grass | — | — | 1½ | 3 | 3¼ | 5½ |
|Meadow fescue | 2½ | 4 | 2½ | 4 | 2½ | 4 |
|Cock’s-foot | 5 | 8 | 3¼ | 6½ | 2½ | 4 |
|Rough-stalked poa | — | — | 1¾ | 3¼ | 3¼ | 6½ |
|Smooth-stalked poa | 3¼ | 6½ | 1½ | 3¼ | — | — |
|White clover | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
|Red clover | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 2½ |
|Hop-clover, or trefoil| 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 2½ |
|Cow-grass | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 2½ |
| +------+--------+-------+--------+------+--------+
| | 33½ | 60½ | 34 | 63½ | 36¼ | 66 |
+----------------------+------+--------+-------+--------+------+--------+
There is a very great difference of opinion respecting the quantity of
seed to be sown to an acre. There can be no doubt that the question is
to be settled by the character of the soil and climate. In soils and
under circumstances where every seed will vegetate and grow off with
unobstructed vigor, less seed is needed than where a part will be
taken by frosts, a part by drenching rains which are not well drained
off, and a part by severe drought. Every farmer must employ his best
judgment in this matter; but, it is better to err on the side of too
much than of too little seed.
TIME OF SEEDING.—We cannot pretend to decide between the conflicting
opinions on this subject. The positiveness of those who prefer
spring-sowing is only to be equalled by that of those who prefer
fall-planting. Young says of the month of August, “this is the best
season of the whole year for laying down land to grass, and no other
is admissible for it on strong, wet, or heavy soils.” This, however,
is said of humid England. But if the character of the season toward
the close of summer favors, there can be no doubt that fall-sowing
will advance the crop very early the next year, in all soils where it
is not liable to be thrown out by the frosts. If the winter proves
severe, it will be prudent to add an additional quantity of seed in
the spring. It is objected to spring sowings, that the grass is grown
in the shade during the early part of the summer, and is, of course,
_tender_, so that when the grain is cut, it is enfeebled by the
powerful heat, to which, then, it becomes exposed. On the whole, we
are inclined to prefer the month of September, if the season favors,
to any other for sowing grass seed. Since writing these lines, one of
our best farmers informs us that he prefers August to any other month.
METHOD OF SOWING.—The ground should be very thoroughly prepared by
deep and fine plowing, and the want of labor in this respect is want
of economy.
If the soil is naturally well drained, no further provision against
wet will be required. But if it be flat, it may be well to lay it off
into lands, strike a furrow through the centre, and then turn the
furrows toward the outer on each side. This will give a slight
elevation at the middle and a drain between each land sufficient to
answer the purpose of moderate surface draining. The seed should be
sown with the greatest _evenness_ possible. The English farmer prefers
to sow some of the kinds separately on this account; for although he
has to sow the whole ground several times over, experience has taught
him, as it will us, that that is the cheapest which is done the best.
Let it be covered in well with a harrow, and not with a bush, which
last leaves the soil dead, and tends to drag the seed into patches and
hollows. As a general rule, grass seed may be planted as deeply as
grain. Farmers lose much more seed from shallow than from deep
planting. For although shallow-planted seed vegetates sooner, they are
more liable to be winter-killed, or to perish by drought than those
which are deeply covered.