280 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



native to the region. No growth could take place during 

 most of the summer months, and only during periods of 

 rainfall could grasses advance. In those regions the 

 advent of the plow was truly in accordance with sound 

 practice, for by deep plowing and good tillage much 

 moisture that falls in winter is conserved and the deep 

 rooting corn, sorghum and Kaffir-corn make good 

 growth. I have seen sorghum stalks 12' high alongside 

 the native buffalo or grama grass 4" high. The lesson 

 is clear : In hot countries there is always lack of moisture 

 near the surface and there one should plant things that 

 root deep or plant annuals that permit good soil culture 

 in preparation of their establishment. 



Seeding the Nezv Grassland. \Nz have now taken a 

 general survey of the situation. Let us get out and sow 

 down a bit of pasture or meadow land. First, scan the 

 land itself. Let us walk -over it. Is it well-drained? 

 If not, choose where tiles or open ditches will best draw 

 away the water that, stagnant in the land, brings in 

 rank stuffs that we do not want and discourage the good 

 things. Is it sour ? We can after a little experience and 

 observation judge of that, and if we are in doubt we can 

 test the soil with a few drops of hydrochloric acid and 

 see if we get effervescence, or we can adapt our grasses 

 to a sour soil if we do not care to sweeten it with lime. 

 Then we study its fitness in the matter of accumulation 

 of vegetable matter, humus. If it is very sandy, grav- 

 elly or clayey, and has in it little organic matter, we 

 must do something for that sooner or later. Perhaps 

 we will wish to plow first, then run the manure spreader 

 over the field and disk in the manure left there. And 



