THE GRASSES, MEADOWS, ETC, 115 



the plant ; and yet, if the land produces at the rate of two 

 tons per acre, the salts are taken out of it, to the amount of 

 upwards of 300 Ibs. per annum. No soils but such as are 

 periodically flooded with enriching waters, can long suffer 

 such a drain with impunity. They must be reneived with 

 the proper manures, or barrenness will ensue. Ashes, lime, 

 bones, and gypsum (the latter especially to be applied to 

 clovers, its good effects not being so marked on the grasses), 

 are essential to maintain fertility ; and to insure the greatest 

 product, animal or vegetable manures must also be added. 



The proper manner of applying manure, is by mixing in 

 a compost and scattering it over the surface, when the grass 

 is just commencing a vigorous growth in spring, or simul- 

 taneously with the first rains after mowing. The growing 

 vegetation soon buries the manure under its thick foliage, 

 and the refreshing showers wash its soluble portions into the 

 roots ; and even the gases that would otherwise escape, are 

 immediately absorbed by the dense leaves and stalks, which 

 everywhere surround it. When scattered broadcast, under 

 such circumstances, the loss of manure is trifling, even in a 

 state of active decomposition. 



Pasturing Meadows. It is an established principle with 

 some, that close feeding, as often at least, as once a year, 

 is essential to the permanent productiveness of all meadows. 

 There is certainly no objection to feeding them soon after 

 being mown, and while the ground is dry and the sod firm. 

 The roots of the grass are rather benefitted than injured by 

 the browsing, and the iand is improved by the droppings 

 from the cattle. But they should never be pastured in early 

 spring or late autumn. It is economy to purchase hay at 

 any price, rather than to spring-pasture meadows, or feed 

 them too late. 



Rotation on Grass Lands. Most soils admit of a profitable 

 rotation or change of crops ; and where this is the case, it is 

 generally better to allow grasses to make tip one of the 

 items in this rotation. Where these are successfully grown 

 in permanent meadows, this change or breaking up is less 

 to be sought on their own account, than for the other crops, 

 which do better for having a rich, fresh turf to revel in. 

 Thus, potatoes are sounder and better, and yield more on 

 turf than on old plowed ground ; and the grain crops are 

 generally more certain and abundant on this, than on other 

 lands. But many of the light soils retain the grasses only 



