MIXED MEADOWS 203 



may be applied broadcast at the rate of 200 to 

 300 pounds per acre. This will stimulate and 

 strengthen any weak plants, and provide all plants 

 with the nitrates, so essential at this season of the 

 year. 



To ensure a large second crop of forage, imme- 

 diately after the first crop is removed a further 

 application of the top -dresser formula should be 

 made, and at the same rate. It must be remem- 

 bered that if a rapid and large growth of succulent 

 food is to be secured, the plants must be abun- 

 dantly supplied with all the essential constituent 

 elements; and since the crop is one that does not 

 have to be reseeded annually, a very considerable 

 increase in the cost of the fertilizer may be allowed 

 in lieu of the preparation and re- seeding that would 

 be necessary if not abundantly fed and if weeds 

 and foreign growths had encroached. 



While the amount of fertilizer recommended 

 may seem large to the farmer accustomed to 

 extensive practice, trials at a number of Experi- 

 ment Stations, notal^ly, Rhode Island (Bulletin 

 No. 99, "A Six-Year Rotation of Crops"), and 

 the experience of growers, notably George E. 

 Clark, Higganum, Conn., show that if large yields 

 of hay or forage (from four to six tons of the former 

 per acre per year) are to be secured, this liberal 

 use of fertilizers is desirable, for the profits are 

 greater. The Rhode Island Experiment Station 



