PASTURES, MEADOWS, AND FORAGE 181 



the best treatment. On reclaimed boggy lands 

 which have been cultivated long enough to 

 eradicate wild plants, the soil is so light that 

 plowing may be unnecessary. Here a little 

 scarifying of the surface and frequent use of the 

 roller will likely give best results. 



309. A good pasture may also be secured by 

 less expensive preparation, if more time is taken. 

 When rolling land has been devoted to the pro- 

 duction of cereals and hay until the soil fails to 

 produce satisfactory crops, it is often wise to 

 abandon the unprofitable rotation and to devote 

 the land to permanent pasturage ; but few per- 

 sons are willing to spend as much time and 

 money as will be necessary to secure a good 

 pasture at once. In that case, sow a liberal 

 quantity of pasture seeds in a crop of thinly 

 seeded wheat, rye, barley or buckwheat, the land 

 having been fitted for the cereals with extra 

 care, and plant- food added by a liberal applica- 

 tion of fertilizers or manure. 



310. Since the pasture is not to be plowed 

 after it is once seeded, it is necessary to prepare 

 the entire soil so perfectly that it will form a 

 comfortable home and provide nourishment for 

 the plants for many years. If the land is poor, 

 fertility should be applied. But prepare the 

 land as best we may, it will not be many years 

 before much of the readily available plant-food 



