No. 4.] THE HAY CROP. 3(Jl 



The chai-acter of soil which best suits grass is pretty 

 generally understood. The strono- retentive soils which 

 hold moisture well are the natural grass lands. The pro- 

 duction of ha}^ upon these can be made most easily profit- 

 able ; but by suitable selection of varieties of grasses and 

 clovers, even some of the lighter soils may be made to yield 

 profitable crops. On the other hand, the State contains 

 large areas of low lands which suffer at the present time 

 from excess of water, and which are producing an inferior 

 quality of hay for this reason. In many cases such areas 

 can be converted into very profitable mowings if they be 

 first drained. A considerable portion of the 9-acre field in 

 Amherst to which reference has been made was of this char- 

 acter, and the methods of improvement adopted here will be 

 first discussed. 



Draixage of Land to be used for Mowing. 

 Partial drainage by means of open ditches will in many 

 cases greatly improve the character of the herbage produced 

 in land which is naturally wet, but the only thoroughly sat- 

 isfactory method of improvement is tile drainage. ^Nlany 

 no doubt hesitate to undcrttike tile drainage through fear of 

 inability to carr^' out the work properly ; others are deterred 

 from undertaking it because of the cost. The limits of this 

 article will not permit a full description of the methods to 

 be followed in underdrainage ; but the operation, unless the 

 location is such as to offer unusual difficulties, is not very 

 difiicult, and no farmer of ordinary capacity need hesitate 

 to undertake it ; and the cost, while considerable, Avill 

 prove a profitable investment, provided the work is care- 

 fully done. Many a tract of land in the State, at [)resent 

 producing a crop of swale hay, and which for the production 

 of such hay is worth ])ossibly |20 to $25 an acre, can at an 

 expenditure of |50 to ifeOO per acre be made to return a good 

 income on a valuation of from $150 to $200. 



Preparation of the Soil for Grass. 

 The fact that very thorough and careful tillage in prepa- 

 ration for crops of all kinds is usually profitable is increas- 

 ingly appreciated in recent years ; and Mr. Clark must be 



