. The American farmer's hand-book ... Agriculture. THE HEAVY OR FIELD CROPS 155 tion of the seeds. The soil ought to be brought into the highest possible degree of fertility; for, although land may be too rich for the production of some crops, it is quite otherwise in the case of grass. Besides being rich, the land should also be well pulverized by tillage; otherwise, the irregularity of the surface will not only occasion an irregularity in the produce of the crop, but it will be liable to be damaged by excessive droughts, before the plants can have extended their roots, or become firmly settl
. The American farmer's hand-book ... Agriculture. THE HEAVY OR FIELD CROPS 155 tion of the seeds. The soil ought to be brought into the highest possible degree of fertility; for, although land may be too rich for the production of some crops, it is quite otherwise in the case of grass. Besides being rich, the land should also be well pulverized by tillage; otherwise, the irregularity of the surface will not only occasion an irregularity in the produce of the crop, but it will be liable to be damaged by excessive droughts, before the plants can have extended their roots, or become firmly settled in the land. The time of sowing the seeds of the cultivated grasses depends on the nature of the land, the state of the weather, and the kind of crop amongst •which they are sown. Among the numerous inventions for sowing seed broadcast, the one here figured is very simple and convenient. When Fig. sown with corn, the seed-time is invariably in the spring. The autumn is preferable when they are sown exclusively by themselves. This prac- tice has been recommended, in the case of laying down lands to perma- nent grass, as being calculated to afi'ord a thicker and better sward. The value of the grass crop is, no doubt, in some degree, afiected by the ex- hfiustion of the soil occasioned by the production of the preceding crop of corn, but not in a degree commensurate with the latter; besides, the period in the rotation at which the smaller seeds should be sown is imme- diately after the land is manured, and, in this case, the severity of the corn crop is felt. After being sown, the seeds quickly germinate, and, in favorable situations, they will have attained a considerable height before the commencement of the corn harvest; and when the corn is cut down close to the ground, they are cut and winnowed with the straw, and add considerably to the value of the latter for fodder. After harvest, tho ground may be slightly pastured with calves and sheep; throughout the. Please n
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