The species of grass appropriated to any particular soil or application being determined upon, its seeds cannot be sown too plentifully, and no economy less de serting the name can possibly exist, than the being sparing of grass seeds. The seeds of grain may easily be sown too thickly ; but with respect to those of grass, it is scarcely capable of occurring. The smaller the stem the more accepta ble it is to cattle ; and when the seeds, particularly of some grasses, are thinly scattered, their stems tend, as it is called, to wood.
The most valuable grass to be cut green, for summer's food, is red clover, which also is an admirable preparation for wheat. To have it in perfection, the weeds must be cleared, and the land har rowed as finely as possible. The surface should also be smoothed with alight roll er. The seeds should likewise be well covered with earth, as should all small seeds, notwithstanding the common opi nion to the contrary. From the middle of April to that of May is the proper sea son for sowing it Although it will last three years, Want down green, the safest course is to let it 'stand but one. It is luxuriant upon a rich soil, whether of clay, loam, or gravel, and will grow even upon a moor. Fora wet soil it is totally unfit.
It may be sown with grain with less im propriety than perhaps any other grass, and particularly with flax. When a land, left unploughed, spontaneously produces this plant, the soil may decidedly be pro nounced good.
Those who lay down land permanently to grass may best depend on white, or Dutch, clover, fur all rich and dry foams and sands, and for rich clays that have been properly drained.
Rye grass will flourish on any land but stiff clays. It is well adapted for perma nent pasture, and, if properly managed, is one of the best spring grasses. There are few so early, or inure palatable and nutritive to cattle. It is less subject to injury in critical hay seasons than any other, and the seeds of none are collected with greater facility. It should be cut for hay some time previously to its being ripe, as the stalks will otherwise he con verted into a species of straw, and its nu tritive qualities be proportionably weak ened.
Sainfoin is preferred by many agricul. hoists to clover, as less likely to injure tattle when they eat it green, producing larger crops, making better hay, and con tinuing four times longer in the ground.
It is several years in arriving at its full strength. The quantity of milk yielded by means of it from cows is nearly double of what is produced by any other green food, and the quality also of the milk is proportionally better. It is much culti vated on chalky soils, and succeeds best where its roots run deep. Cold and wet clay is extremely ill adapted for it, and the dryness of land is of more conse quence to its growth than even the rich ness of it. It is best cultivated by the drill husbandry, after repeated ploughing, harrowing, and rolling; and while care is taken not to leave the seeds uncovered, they must also not be buried deeper than about an inch. They should be sowed in the latter end of March. An acre of very ordinary land will maintain four cows for eight months, and afford the greatest part of their food in hay for the rest of the year.
Lucerne remains at least above twelve years producing very large crops, and yielding the most excellent hay, to the amount of about seven tons per acre. It has obtained the highest praises from all agricultural writers, With a view to its successful cultivation, the soil must be kept Open and free from weeds, which is most eff'ectnally done by horse-hoeing. It is transplanted with extreme advantage.
if the tap root be cut off, by which it fitted for a shallow soil, and its roots shoot out laterally and near the surface. The culture of this plant is a principal dis tinction of French husbandry, and is in that country a source of almost uniform profit. The hest preparation for it is a turnip or cabbage crop. No manure should be allowed after th c sowing till the crop is two yews old. Its improving ef fect upon the soil is particularly great.
Burnet is a grass peculiarly adapted to poor land, and is so hardy as to flourish when all other vegetation fails. Its cul tivation is not hazardous or expensive. It is best sown in the beginning of July. It affords rich pleasant milk, and in great plenty. For moist loam and clays there cannot be a better grass than the meadow fox-tail, which is not only early, but re mains for nine or ten years, and is little injured by frost.