THE GRASSES, MEADOWS, ETC. 113 



water meadows ; such as are liable to overflow, as the rich 

 bottom or interval lands upon a river bank ; heavy, tenacious 

 clays, and mountain or steep hill-side land, which is pecu 

 liarly liable to wash from rains. The low, bottom lands 

 generally receive one or more annual dressings from the over- 

 flowing waters. The fertilizing matters thus deposited, are 

 converted into hay, and become a reliable source for increas- 

 ing the muck heap for other parts of the farm, without de- 

 manding any thing in return. The thick sward of nutritious, 

 grasses, which nature has so lavishly supplied to them, is an 

 effectual protection against abrasion and waste from the 

 overflowing water, while the crop, if at any time submerged, 

 can receive comparatively little injury. If plowed and the 

 fine loose earth is exposed to a sweeping current, much of 

 the soil and all the crop may be lost. 



Strong clay lands cannot be properly worked without much 

 labor, unless when under-drained and well filled with manure ; 

 and they seldom exist in the former condition in this country. 

 Yet these soils, next to the fertile, self-sustaining, bottom 

 lands, are the most profitable for the various grasses. When 

 thus appropriated, immediately after clearing off the native 

 growth of wood, the fine vegetable mold at the surface, aided 

 by the magazine of supplies contained in the clay below, 

 gives to them the most certain and permanent growth. If 

 once plowed, this mold is turned under, and the intractable 

 clay takes its place on the surface ; and lacking those pecu- 

 liarities of color, texture and chemical composition, which we 

 have before shown, are essential to the most successful vegeta- 

 tion, the grass is thin, and for years, comparatively unproduc- 

 tive. When necessary to break up such lands, they ought to be 

 thoroughly manured, evenly laid down, and heavily seeded to 

 grass ; and if any deficiency of seed or growth is manifested, 

 they should receive an addition of seed, with a compost 

 dressing. 



The injury to plowing steep side-hills, is sufficiently ap- 

 parent, as not only the soluble matters, but many of the finer 

 particles of the soil, are washed out and carried far beyond 

 reach. Such lands should be kept in permanent pasture, if 

 not suitable for mowing. If fed off by sheep, they drop most 

 of their manure on the higher points, which is partially 

 washed down and sustains the fertility of every part. There 

 is still another class of lands that should not be broken up for 

 meadows. These are such as are filled with small stones 

 from the surface of which they have once been cleared ; bu 



