GRASSES FOR SPECIAL CONDITIONS 193 



ized grasses, for it takes the combined experience of 

 many thousands of farmers to determine the peculiari- 

 ties and adaptability of any new crop. 



WET LANDS 



I^ands too wet for cultivation are frequently ex- 

 tremely fertile, and would be very productive if we 

 could find grasses that could be started upon them 

 merely by scattering the seed. There are many wild 

 grasses, and a few tame ones, adapted to such soils. 

 Some of these wild species produce excellent feed, and 

 a careful study should be made of them with a view 

 to learning how to propagate them by seed. 



Where land, not otherwise inclined to be wet, is 

 merely overflowed by running streams for a period of 

 a few days at a time, it is usually not difficult to grow 

 the ordinary grasses. Even alfalfa thrives under these 

 conditions. But where the land is covered for long 

 periods, and particularly where stagnant water remains 

 for a considerable time, the problem is much more 

 serious. Even the wild swamp- grasses will not stand 

 prolonged submergence in stagnant water, particularly 

 in warm weather. Many grasses will grow in shallow 

 water, but none of any value can bear continued sub- 

 mergence of the whole plant. Timothy can be started 

 on moderately wet soils merely by sowing the seed. 

 On soils a little too wet for timothy, redtop and 



FOWL-MEADOW GRASS (Poa serotina) can be started 

 in the same manner. The latter grass is a very good 

 one, but it is not much used, so that seed obtained 

 in the markets is apt to be old or otherwise of poor 

 quality. These two grasses, mixed with alsike clover, 



