186 THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE 



yield is unprofitable, either in a rotation or in 

 a permanent meidow. As a crop in the rota- 

 tion, the meadow may improve the soil for 

 subsequent crops. 



319. The larger yields are usually secured 

 from vigorous young meadows which contain 

 three or four parts of timothy and one part of 

 mixed clovers. If clover be associated with 

 timothy in approximately these proportions, 

 nearly as much timothy will be secured as if 

 it were sown alone, and the clover, or host 

 plants, will be extra. True, the clovers mature 

 more quickly than the timothy, and this is 

 somewhat objectionable ; therefore, the clover 

 mixture may be composed largely of alsike clo- 

 ver, which remains green longer and cures lighter 

 colored than the medium red clover does. 



320. The meadow must be viewed from many 

 standpoints. For the city market, unmixed hay 

 sells for more than the mixed, though the latter 

 may be better and more palatable. The uses to 

 which the hay is destined must be considered, 

 since horses should not be fed much clover, 

 while sheep and cattle should not be fed hay 

 composed wholly of timothy and similar grasses. 

 But the meadow remains productive longest 

 where the host plants are present. 



321. Whether it is best to leave the meadow 

 for some years and preserve its productiveness 



