FOWL MEADOW GRASS. 307 



lands and especially to such as flourisli best ou plenti- 

 ful supplies of humus. A hay meadow of this grass 

 will last for many years, if properly managed. 



Preparing the Soil. — The preparation of the soil for 

 fowl meadow gTass is much the same as for redtop. 

 (See p. 155.) It may also be introduced into lowlands 

 congenial to its growth by sowing the seed without 

 ploughing the land, but such introduction will of neces- 

 sity not be rapid. 



Sowing. — This grass may be best sown in the early 

 spring in the northern states and Canada, but in the 

 southern states it would doubtless be better sown in 

 the autumn. It may be sown alone, or what is better 

 in the mixtures that have adaptation for lowlands, as, 

 for instance, along with timothy or redtop when sown 

 for hay and along with one or both of these when sown 

 for pasture with blue grass added. Alsike clover may 

 also be added for both uses, but alsike and fowl mead- 

 ow grass would not go well together for making hay, 

 except with some stiffer grass as timothy to support 

 them. The seed is usually sown by hand and covered 

 with a light harrow. It weighs 12 to 14 pounds jDer 

 bushel, but when verj^ well cleaned weighs 19 or 20 

 pounds. When sown alone not less than 2 bushels of 

 seed should be used. When sown along with other 

 grasses the amount will of course vary with the kind 

 and proportions of the other grasses sown. 



Pasturing. — From spring until the early autumn 

 fowl meadow grass furnishes good grazing, but after 

 a hay crop the aftermath is not abundant. As a pas- 



