162 IREIGATION. 



any other manner. Where it is known that lime is effec- 

 tive upon the soil, it may be used in the same manner as 

 upon other lands ; if used experimentally, 40 bushels per 

 acre may be taken as the normal quantity. The needs of 

 the soil as to fertilizing may be calculated as proportion- 

 ate to the drafts made upon it. Where hay is removed 

 and the meadow is not pastured, at least the amount of 

 fertilizing matter mentioned above will be required, or 

 even more, if the grass crops are heavy and of good qual- 

 ity. If sheep are pastured upon a meadow in the day- 

 time, and fed at night in yards, with bran, grain, or any 

 extra food, or if dairy cows are so pastured and fed, the 

 need for fertilizers will be small, or none may be required. 

 A reasonable consideration should be given to this point, 

 which will be an easy matter for the intelligent farmer. 

 In pasturing these meadows, it will be best to stock 

 them closely, and use only a portion at a time, that the 

 grass may be eaten off clean, and not trampled down. By 

 dividing the meadow into sections, it will be easy to ar- 

 range for pasturing one part, while the others are either 

 under water or in different stages of growth. As a gen- 

 eral rule it is advisable not to pasture sheep freely upon 

 watered meadows, unless they are fed for the butcher. 

 When fed for fattening, they make very rapid growth; 

 the lush herbage causes an excessive secretion of bile, 

 which at first assists greatly in the formation of a high- 

 colored fat, but after this favorable stage is passed, the 

 blood may, and will probably, become affected and inflam- 

 matory disease appear ; or the sheep will almost certainly 

 become infected with flukes, and the rot will inevitably 

 result. Only experienced sheep owners should make use 

 of pastures irrigated by streams, and they should be 

 watchful not to overpass the point of safe exposure to the 

 dangerous feeding. When the meadows are watered from 

 wells, through pipes, as described on page 55, this cau- 

 tion may not be applicable. 



