158 AGRICULTURE^ 



aftermath, or second growth, on older meadows may be 

 pastured, though it does not pay to feed them close. Es- 

 pecially should new meadows not be trampled by stock 

 while wet. 



Permanent meadows. Many meadows are located on 

 wet ground, or on soil that for some reason is not cropped. 

 In other cases there is neglect to rotate the meadow land 

 with the remainder of the fields in the crop series. It is 

 often found that meadows that are thus left for a number 

 of years have a tendency to "run out." 



The yield of hay on almost any meadow left without 

 attention for several years decreases from one-third to one- 

 half. Weeds begin to appear, and patches here and there 

 become thin or die out. The less desirable grasses crowd 

 out the better ones. Such a meadow is highly unprofitable. 

 If tillable, it should be plowed up and put into other crops. 

 If not, it should be improved and its quality kept up. 



It is not hard to keep permanent meadows in a state 

 of high production, but it requires some labor and expense. 

 The following treatment will do much to keep permanent 

 meadows in good condition: (1) No weeds are to be al- 

 lowed to go to seed; (2) if the soil is run down, the field 

 should be manured or other fertilizer used on it; (3) the 

 soil should be loosened and the sod-bound condition relieved 

 by disking; (4) fresh pure grass seed should be scattered, 

 especially over thin or weedy places. 



TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION 



1. What proportion of your father's farm is in mead- 

 ow ? In pasture ? Compare with all the farms represented 

 in the school. 



2. How many different meadows on your home farm? 

 How long has each been clown ? Which are the more suc- 

 cessful, the older or the newer ones? 



