36 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



move the nitric acid of the nitrate more rapidly than the soda, and 

 in consequence, the latter, which is capable of overcoming or 

 lessening the soil acidity, tends to accumulate in the soil." 



The plain lesson of this is to sweeten the soil with lime 

 before making the meadow. Carbonate of lime (ground 

 raw limestone) is the cheapest and best source of alkaline 

 base for restoring the sweetness of the soil. It is interest- 

 ing to see how, as the soil is fed, the inferior redtop re- 

 cedes and the better grass predominates. On this espe- 

 cial type of Rhode Island soil (rather markedly deficient 

 in fertility) it was found well to use potassium, phos- 

 phorus and nitrogen in the following proportions : 807 

 pounds of 1 6 per cent acid phosphate, 200 pounds of mu- 

 riate of potash and 400 pounds of nitrate of soda. It is 

 very noticeable that fertilization increased the density of 

 the stand and excluded weeds. I again quote from Rhode 

 Island bulletin 82 : 



"In 1900 the following numbers of grass stalks per square foot 

 were found upon each of the three plots: 



Plot without nitrogen, 222. 



Plot with a one-third ration of nitrogen, 271. 



Plot with a full ration of nitrogen, 236. 



The greater quantity of nitrate of soda was an important factor 

 in maintaining the stand of timothy probably on account of the 

 soda left behind, by which the tendency of the soil to become acid 

 (sour) was partly counteracted. The largest yield of field-cured 

 hay in 1901 was 9,390 pounds, or 4.7 tons per acre, which was 

 found to be equivalent to 7,549 pounds, or 3.8 tons, after lying in 

 the mow until the following February. An allowance of 20 per cent 

 to cover shrinkage in the barn was found to be excessive except 

 in the case of the heaviest crop of the first cutting, in which case 

 ,4.4 tons of field-cured hay were obtained per acre. The hay was, 

 in every instance, sufficiently cured to keep in the best condition 

 before being weighed and stored in the barn. The quantities of 

 plant food removed by the crop were determined. It was found 



