200 FOE AGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



lowing year at the rate of 5666 pounds to the acre against 

 2166 for a check plot. 



At the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada, 

 400 pounds superphosphate to the acre gave a greatly in- 

 creased yield. 



219. Treatment of meadows. In the Dakotas and 

 adjacent Canada, brome-grass fields as a rule yield the 

 first season nothing but a small amount of pasturage; 

 the second year, a good crop of hay; the third year, a 

 maximum crop ; the fourth year, a decidedly diminished 

 yield; and thereafter, but little unless special treatment 

 is given. 



In the Columbia Basin a good amount of pasture is 

 secured the first year, the second year the grass yields 

 but moderately if cut for hay, but bears a heavy crop of 

 seed. The third year the hay crop is at a maximum. 



Brome-grass, after the third or fourth year, falls off 

 in yield rapidly on account of what is called a " sod- 

 bound " condition, apparently due in part to the spread- 

 ing of the grass, and in part to the increasing compactness 

 of the soil. Loosening the soil thoroughly will renew the 

 vigor of the grass. On loose or sandy soil harrowing with 

 disk or spike-tooth harrow is fairly effective. On heavier 

 soils plowing is necessary, the time depending largely on 

 the soil moisture conditions. But little of the grass is 

 killed by plowing. Several methods have been used : 



1. Plowing about 2 inches deep in spring, a method 

 advocated by the Saskatchewan Experiment Farm. 



2. Plowing after the hay crop is harvested, advocated 

 by the Brandon, Manitoba, Experiment Farm. 



3. Plowing in spring and seeding to oats or other grain, 

 to which some brome seed may be added. In this way a 

 crop of grain is secured and a full grass crop the next year. 



