MEADOWS AND PASTURES 99 



" (2) The hay crop is generally the crop which in a rota- 

 tion with grain brings the largest financial returns in 

 New York State. If a certain application of manures 

 increases in the same ratio the yields of hay and grain, 

 the value of the increase in the former crop would be 

 greater than that of the latter. It should pay best to 

 increase the crop that is worth the most, provided the 

 cost of the increase is the same in both cases. 



" (3) Grass is peculiarly sensitive to readily available 

 nitrogen in fertilizers. Grain crops are not benefited 

 to the same extent by this form of nutrient. As most 

 commercial fertilizers contain some more or less readily 

 available nitrogen, much of which may be carried off in 

 the drainage water and thus be lost to crops after the year 

 it is applied, it would seem to be advisable to add this to 

 the crop that it will benefit most. On the other hand, 

 the phosphorus and potassium contained in the fertilizer 

 are not removed in large amounts by the drainage water 

 and the unused parts remain in the soil to benefit the 

 succeeding grain crops." 



Whether or not it is best to apply the fertilizers to the 

 hay crop or elsewhere in the rotation, there can be no 

 doubt that the judicious fertilizing of hay crops is often 

 very profitable, especially where fertilizers can be obtained 

 cheaply and where the good city markets for the hay are 

 convenient. 



Well-rotted barnyard manure invariably increases the 

 crop of hay greatly, but in the absence of this material com- 

 parable results may be secured with commercial fertilizers. 



The results of many fertilizer trials on mixed grasses 

 and legumes, both in Europe and in America, lead to the 

 general conclusion that nitrogenous fertilizers tend to 

 increase the proportion of grass herbage, while phosphate 



