CULTURE OF GRASSES 37 



first 2 or 3 years decreases considerably. It is evident 

 that the greatest return in yield is obtained when the 

 fields are reseeded as often as every three years. It is for 

 this reason that grass occupies a prominent position in 

 nearly all systems of rotation. A meadow gives its 

 greatest yield the first crop year and a fair return the 

 second crop year. Hence in a rotation a field can be 

 used one or two years for meadow, followed by one or 

 two years of pasture. Where the land value and cost 

 of labor permit, the best results are likely to be given by 

 one year of meadow and one year of pasture. This of 

 course is followed by a cultivated crop of some kind and, 

 somewhere in the series, by a leguminous crop. In such a 

 system there is little trouble from weeds and, because of 

 the high state of fertility maintained, the yield is high. 

 Since rotation of crops is a subject which has to do with 

 general farm practice it will not be further discussed here. 



GRASS SEED 



Success in the growing of forage crops can scarcely be 

 attained unless pure viable seed is used. Timothy seed 

 is now grown on such a large scale, and under conditions 

 so favorable for the production of the first grade seed 

 that a satisfactory quality may be obtained of this im- 

 portant forage grass. The seed of many other kinds is 

 not infrequently low in viability or mixed with weed seed 

 or with chaff. 



By viability is meant ability of the seed to germinate. 



The seed of corn or wheat as ordinarily used by the 



grower has a viability of nearly ioo per cent, that is, 



.nearly every seed will grow if placed under the proper 



