MEADOWS AND PASTURES 273 



destroy the weeds, conserve moisture and provide a pulverized seed-bed 

 for the grass. It is advisable to plow land for spring seeding of grass and 

 clover the preceding year, or at least several weeks in advance of seeding 

 time, in order that it may become thoroughly settled before seeding. 



Meadow and Pasture Seed Mixtures. — From the standpoint of both 

 variety and total yield, mixtures give best results in both meadows and 

 pastures. Experiments at several experiment stations report yields for 

 mixtures of two or more grasses and clovers that exceed the yield of any of 

 the varieties entering into the mixture when seeded alone under identical 

 conditions. There are a few exceptions, namely, that of alfalfa which is 

 cut several times a year, and which generally gives best results when grown 

 alone. The same has been found true with Italian rye grass. 



Mixtures yield better than pure cultures because: (1) the require- 

 ments of the different plants entering into the mixtures are dissimilar and 

 do not make them direct competitors for plant food; (2) the root habits 

 being different, their distribution through the soil is more thorough; 

 (3) the average yearly return is more nearly even through a long period of 

 time; (4) variation in light requirements of different plants enable some 

 species to do well in the shade of taller ones, thus increasing the quantity 

 of herbage; and (5) legumes mixed with grasses increase the nitrogen 

 supply for the latter. . 



As before indicated, mixtures for mowing purposes should contain 

 only plants that mature near the same time. This will generally confine 

 the mixture to two or three species, although occasionally a larger number 

 may be advantageously used. Timothy and red clover constitute the 

 mixture most common and practical over a large region of the hay-produc- 

 ing district of North America. Redtop and alsike clover are frequently 

 included, especially where soils are wet and inclined to be sour. Alsike 

 clover and redtop are occasionally used without the timothy and red 

 clover. Orchard grass and alsike clover work well together, both as to 

 character of growth and time of maturity. 



In pasture mixtures there is opportunity for a much greater variety 

 and wider range as to time of maturity in the plants used. In North 

 America, however, mixtures made up of a great number of clovers and 

 grasses are rather unusual, although these seem to be the rule in pasture 

 mixtures of England and Scotland. 



Soil and climatic conditions are so diverse that it is impossible to enu- 

 merate all the mixtures suited to different conditions and localities for any 

 extensive region or for different purposes. Prominence should be given, 

 however, to those grasses that are best adapted to local conditions and best 

 meet the needs. One or more species that will make quick growth and give 

 early pasture should be included in such a mixture. The following general 

 suggestions are offered: 



In regions adapted to Kentucky blue grass, add white clover, red clover 

 and timothy. 



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