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2nd. Selection of suitable seeds for sowing and method of 

 mixing. 



3rd. Times of sowing and the best methods of securing stands. 



4th. Cutting, curing and storing the hay. 



5th. Improvement of meadows. 



6th. Manures and manner of their application. 



PREPARATION OF MEADOW LANDS. 



This is of the utmost importance when we reflect that any want 

 of attention to all the details necessary to insure success involves a 

 considerable loss, not only in money and labor, but also in the 

 length of time required to undo and correct the error. God sows 

 the pastures to our hands, but man must sow the meadows. A 

 man may think he is pursuing the most judicious course possible, 

 but he may be in error, and an honest mistake does not free the 

 farmer from loss. He must inform himself correctly on the char- 

 acter of the land to be sown, and then, with every facility at his 

 command, acquaint himself with the grasses best adapted to its 

 requirements. 



In the first place, though many varieties of grass will grow well 

 on moist land, it is not to be understood that they will thrive best 

 on wet lauds. When the water stands on the surface all the year, 

 the character of the hay is nearly worthless, being full of moisture 

 and with but little nutritive principles in it. Consequently it is 

 very important to have soils properly drained, if they require it. 

 It will largely increase the quantity and greatly improve the quality 

 of the crop. With the soil full of moisture it becomes sour, and, 

 though full of fertility, it is unavailable to the plant. With .wet 

 soil, it is impossible to put the laud in a proper state of tilth. So 

 all things p6int to the necessity of drainage. 



It may be proper to state that every piece of ground on which 

 water will stand two hours after a rain, will be benefitted by a 

 system of drainage. This seems to the Southerner to be such a 

 stupendous undertaking that nearly every one is discouraged from 

 making the effort. When it is supposed that draining can only be 

 effected by ditching in every direction, and laying great stretches of 

 pipes, the undertaking does seem indeed to be very costly. 



The method of pipe-laying is the best, and as our farmers see 

 the good effects of a cheaper method, they will gradually, and by 

 slow degrees, come to practice the more substantial methods. A 



