6 THE CULTURE AND USES OF BROME-GRASS. 



to remain on the ground. Aside from this, the field receives no at- 

 tention and in most cases it is not pastured in the fall. AVhen grazed 

 during the autumn of the first year care should be taken to avoid 

 overpasturing. 



RENEWAL OF 3IEADOWS. 



Under ordinar}^ conditions a meadoAv of brome-grass will remain 

 productive for three or four years, depending largely on the kind of 

 soil and the nature of the treatment which it receives. Althouo;h it 

 has been grown for a number of years in this country, there has been 

 ver}' little done in an experimental Avay by farmers to determine the 

 best methods of renewing old meadows. In the Canadian Northwest 

 more attention has been given to this subject, and farmers thej.'e have 

 obtained very good results by their methods. 



The history of a field of brome-grass is in general as follows: 

 During the season in which it is seeded very little is obtained from 

 it, except, perhaps, a small amount of pasturage; the next year a 

 very fair crop of hay is secured; the third 3^ear, a maximum crop; 

 the fourth year, the 3'ield is considerabl}' reduced ; and following 

 this it decreases rapidly, owing to the meadow becoming what is 

 commonly called " sod-bound." As before stated, the decrease in 

 3'ield after the third year depends to a large extent on the kind of soil, 

 since on heavy, rich soils the grass usually remains productive for a 

 longer period. The character of the season also is thought to have 

 an effect on the life of the meadow, and some farmers are of the 

 opinion that if conditions are exceptionally favorable for a large croj^ 

 the second j^ear the grass has a tendency to diminish in yield earlier 

 than if an ordinary crop was produced at that time. 



The method of renewal orivinc: best results in the Canadian 

 Northwest and also practiced to some extent in the Dakotas is that of 

 shallow breaking, the time of year depending largely on the amount 

 of rainfall. The experimental farm at Brandon. Manitoba, recom- 

 mends that the meadow be plowed about 2 inches deep in June or 

 early Jul}', after a crop of hay has been removed, the sod being 

 then rolled and worked down thoroughly. As a result of this treat- 

 ment a good crop of hay is secured the following season. Farther 

 west, in Saskatchewan and in the drier portions of the Dakotas, 

 breaking the meadow in the spring, about May, gives best results. 

 This method is recommended by the experimental farm at Indian 

 Head, Saskatchewan. Satisfactorj?^ results have been obtained in the 

 more humid sections from shallow-breaking the sod in the spring 

 and putting it in condition for a light seeding of grain, oats being 

 frequently used. If thought necessary, 6 to 8 pounds of brome- 

 grass seed is added. In this way a crop of grain is secured the same 

 year, and a good crop of grass the next, so that the ground is not 



111— V 



