MANAGEMENT OF MEADOWS. 273 



onion just above the bulb, indicating a maturity of that 

 organ. 



4. If the stalk be cut from the tubers before this evi- 

 dence of maturity appears, the necessary supplies of nutri- 

 tion will be arrested, their proper growth will cease, and 

 an effort will be made to repair the injury by sending out 

 small lateral tubers, from which weak unhealthy stalks will 

 proceed, at the expense of the original tubers. All will ul- 

 timately perish, either by the drought of autumn or the 

 cold of winter. 



5. The tubers, together with one or two of 'the lower 

 joints of the stalk, remain fresh and green during the win- 

 ter, if left to take their natural course ; but if, by any means, 

 this green portion be severed, at any season of the year, 

 the result is the death of the plant." From these five propo- 

 sitions, the following conclusions are drawn: 



1. "The timothy grass cannot, under any circumstances, 

 be adapted for pasture, as the close nipping of horses and 

 sheep is fatal to the tubers, which are also extensively de- 

 stroyed by swine, if allowed to run in the pasture. 



2. That the proper time for mowing timothy, is at any 

 time after the process of desiccation has commenced on the 

 stalk, as noted in the third proposition. It is not very 

 essential whether it is performed a week earlier or later, 

 provided it be postponed till that evidence of maturity has 

 become manifested. 



3. All attempts at close shaving the sward, should be 

 avoided while using the scythe, and in guaging the mowing 

 machines, care should be taken to run them so high that 

 they will not cut the timothy below the second joint above 

 the tuber." 



Any one can verify these propositions and conclusions, by 

 going late in the fall to a meadow of timothy and examin- 

 ing for himself. He will see that those tubers that have a 

 green stalk, however short, will be large, full, healthy and 

 and green, while on the contrary, those cut close will have 

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