34 A MANUAL OF FARM GRASSES 



If the pasture is such as to allow of plowing it can 

 best be rejuvenated by plowing and reseeding as de- 

 scribed under temporary pastures. 



CARE OF MEADOWS 



There is little to be said concerning the care of perma- 

 nent meadows beyond calling attention to the fact that 

 by continually cutting and removing the hay the 

 fertility of the soil is gradually reduced.. Some soils are 

 of such a structure that the deterioration is not noticeable 

 for several years. The loss of nitrogen and usually of 

 potash or phosphoric acid will reduce the yield per- 

 ceptibly in a few years. Hence it is necessary to fer- 

 tilize meadows in the same way as mentioned above for 

 pastures. 



Lowland meadows that are subject to overflow may 

 receive fertilizing material by the deposit of silt. The 

 meadows around the Bay of Fundy in. Nova Scotia are 

 regularly fertilized in this manner. Dikes are built to 

 keep out the sea water but at intervals of several years 

 the meadows are flooded at high tide, when a thin coating 

 of silt or ooze is deposited. During the first season the 

 rains wash out the excess of saline matter and the 

 meadows are rejuvenated. 



MAKING HAY 



The methods of making hay are so well known that 

 the process in general will not be described in detail. 

 Machinery for making hay is now in such general use 

 that hand methods will be passed over. The grass is cut 

 with a mowing machine and allowed to cure, after which 



