AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



179 



jrreatly increases the yield. It requires the land to lie peculiarly 

 in connection with running water, and a complex and artistic 

 series of ditches and draining is necessary. It is too extensive 

 a subject to enter upon in this work, though there are many 

 positions in the United States where it may be favorably em 

 ployed. 



406. Good old hay 18 long and large, hard and tough ; color inclining 

 to green rather than lo white, has a sweet taste ai&amp;gt;d fragrant smell, and 

 when infused in hot water produces a rich, dark- colored tea. In damp 

 weather good hay absorbs moisture, and becomes heavier, &quot;A truss&quot; 

 of good old hay weighs 56 Ibs. (Stephens.) The following rule h 

 given to find the weight of hay in bulk, but we have not tested it. It 

 necessarily varies with circumstances, old hay weighing heavier per 

 square foot than new ; and ripe hay heavier than if cut before blossom- 

 Jug. 



&quot; Multiply the length, breadth, and height into each other, and if the 

 hay is somewhat settled, ten sclid yards will make a ton. Clover will 

 require 11 to 12 such yards.&quot; 



A peculiar mode of renovating worn out meadows has been employed 

 of late years in Massachusetts. At the end of August or begining of 

 September, the grass land is carefully and neatly plowed and rolled 

 down. Fifteen to twenty loads of compost are next spread to the acre, 

 and harrowed both ways. The grass seed is then sown and cove:ed 

 with a brush harrow, and is ready to cut the next summer, though per 

 haps a little later. The seed must be applied liberally, say three to 

 four pecks per acre. ( Trans, of AgricuL Societies of Mass., 1 852, p. 769.) 



There are various other modes of renovating worn out meadows when 

 it is not convenient to plow them, for which see The Farmer s Compan 

 ion and Horticultural Gazette, vol. ii, (1853.) p. 20. 



&quot; In forming mixtures of grass seeds, every soil should be supplied 

 with its appropriate mixture, both as regards succession and qualities ; 

 and as the permament ones requiie time to come to maturity, some of 

 the more short lived should be introduced that there may be a crop 

 from the begining, and also that there should be as great a variety as 

 poesiMe. The grasses thrive permamently only when mixed, some 

 forming herbage in the spring and autumn, and a few throughout the 

 warmer months ; if they did not closely succeed each other, weeds would 

 soon appear. * 



The following table, arranged by one of the large &quot;English Seed 





