CHAPTER VII 

 GRASS SODS 



Value of Sods. The character of the sods is 

 a faithful index of the condition of the soil in any 

 region adapted to grass. The value of heavy 

 sods to a soil cannot be overestimated. They 

 not only give to a farm a prosperous appearance, 

 but our country's agriculture would be on a much 

 safer basis if heavy coverings of grass were more 

 universal. We do not hold the legumes in too high 

 esteem, but the emphasis placed upon their ability 

 to appropriate nitrogen from the air has caused 

 some land-owners to fail in appreciation of the 

 aid to soil fertility that may be rendered by the 

 grasses. One often hears the statement that they 

 can add nothing to the soil, and this is serious 

 error. They add all that may be given in the 

 clovers, excepting nitrogen only, and that is only 

 one element of plant-food, important though it be. 

 A great part of the value of clover lies in its ability 

 to supply organic matter to the soil and to im- 



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