202 AGRICULTURE 



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 down ? Which are the more suc- 

 cessful, the older or the newer ones? Why? 



3. Make a collection of the different meadow plants 

 produced on your home meadows. How many different 

 kinds of grasses? How many legumes? Do you find any 

 grasses that were not sown, but which have come in of 

 their own accord? Learn to identify each different grass 

 and its seed in your meadows. 



4. Make a collection of the most troublesome weeds 

 found in your meadows. Learn to identify both plants and 

 seeds. How many farmers in your region cut down the 

 weeds on their meadows to keep them from going to seed ? 



5. Go out into some meadow near by and examine it 



