No. 4.] THE HAY CROP. 373 



to cause the loss through leaching of a large amount of Ihue, 

 and it is perhaps this eflcct which makes it impossible for 

 the clover to thrive. The diflfcrence in the growth of clover 

 on these two salts of potash is invariably greater in relatively 

 wet than in dry seasons. 



Conditions affecting the Growth of Timothy and Red- 

 top. — Whenever the soil is abundantly supplied with ma- 

 nure or fertilizers which supply nitrogen in relatively large 

 amounts, timothy will be found relatively abundant in the 

 mowing, unless the soil be sour. If it be sour, the red-top 

 will predominate, while, as already stated, there will be 

 little or no clover. If, then, it be desired to produce first- 

 class timothy hay for sale, the farmer shoidd make sure that 

 his soil is not sour ; and if found to be so, he must apply 

 lime, as already advised for clover. On soils which are not 

 sour, heavy applications of barnyard manure bring the land 

 into good condition for thnothy ; and if it be desired to pro- 

 duce market hay, it will usually be best not to use potash 

 largely in connection with the manure for the crops pre- 

 ceding the grass. For market hay, heavy applications of 

 nitrogen manures or fertilizers and relatively light applica- 

 tions of materials containing either potash or phosphoric 

 acid should be the rule. 



Top-dressing Grass Lands. 

 Tliroughout the State manure is quite largely used for top- 

 dressing grass lands, and every good farmer knows that fine 

 crops of hay can be produced through its use. It may be 

 doubted, however, whether the manure on many of our farms 

 might not be more advantageously used in most cases upon 

 the plowed lands. The elements of value contained in the 

 manure are most certainly conserved for the use of the fol- 

 lowing crop when the manure can be incorporated with the 

 soil. When it must lie upon the surface, it is subject to 

 some loss, chiefly in two ways : first, by the escape of am- 

 monia into the air ; and second, by wash over the surface. 

 Further, the manure, unless fine, tends to kill the grass to 

 some extent. The necessity for a close turf for the produc- 

 tion of maxlnunn hay crops has be(!n alluded to. If numerous 



