CHAPTER XXI 



MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



Hay and pasture crops are usually considered by the 

 general farmer, especially in the corn belt and Southern 

 States, as holding a place of minor importance to the 

 cereals or special money crops. In some sections of the 

 country hay is the chief money crop, but even where it is 

 depended upon for a large part of the farm income, it 

 seldom receives the attention accorded other money crops. 

 Few farmers, even in the hay growing sections of the coun- 

 try, have attempted to increase the yield of their meadows 

 and pastures by methods similar to those employed to 

 increase the yield of grains. Fertilizers and manures 

 are rarely applied to meadows or pastures, the general 

 opinion prevailing that a Ip.rger return may be received 

 from fertilizers when they are used in connection with 

 other crops. This opinion, however, has not been verified 

 by experiments. Based upon experiments at the Penn- 

 sjdvania Station, Professor Hunt makes the statement 

 that the same amount of money used in the purchase of 

 fertilizers for grass lands will bring a greater profit than 

 when applied to com or wheat, and at the same time will 

 make the soil more productive for succeeding crops. 

 Experiments conducted at other stations and the experi- 

 ence of progressive farmers show that meadows and pas- 

 tures will respond to fertilization and improved methods 

 of culture quite as readily as will general field crops. 



370 



