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flows, for though they may be excellently well adapted for the growth of 

 corn, the grasses will soon wither and die in such situations. 



Good meadows are found in the latitude of Tennessee upon suitable 

 soils, with every exposure and in almost every situation. The earliest 

 meadows and those that produce the most nutritious hay have slightly 

 southern exposures but not enough to absorb heat from the sun to such a 

 degree as to wither the grasses at noon tide. A slight southern inclina- 

 tion, especially if facing a water course having a fringe of trees between 

 the stream and meadow, is in all respects the best situation. Large quan- 

 tities of hay may, as a general thing, be harvested from meadows having 



BI.UE GRASS PADDOCKS, MAURY COUNTY, TENN. 



a northern exposure. The soils in such situations will retain moisture 

 longer and moisture is indispensable to a heavy growth of grass. Though 

 the growth will not be so quick or so early as upon southern exposures, 

 it will be continued later in the fall months and in general the grass will 

 be ranker and denser. Soils on northern exposures are also more fertile 

 in a region having the same general character of soils. An eastern ex- 

 posure will grow larger quantities of hay than a western one, because the 

 growth of the grasses on the latter is checked to a greater extent by the 

 heat of the afternoon sun. The earliest and most nutritious hay crops are 

 harvested from meadows having a southern exposure; the largest yields 



