IV 



MEADOWS AND PASTURES (Co7icluaed) 

 I.ONGEVITY OF MEADOWS 



*T* HE length of time a meadow will last depends 

 ■*• on the grasses of which it is composed, on 

 ^^al the climate and the charadler of the soil, and 

 on the treatment it receives. Meadows, of 

 Bermuda grass, blue-grass, or alfalfa last almost in- 

 definitely with proper treatment, and remain as prolific 

 as at first ; in fadl, they increase in produdliveness 

 for some years after they are laid down. Meadows of 

 other grasses iisually produce their largest yield the 

 first year a crop is obtained, and vnll drop to about half 

 this amount in one or two j-ears more unless well 

 manured. Even with good manuring, meadows of the 

 common hay grasses of this country seldom remain as 

 produdtive as they were the first 3-ear. Most of our 

 meadows become weedy in a few years. A weedy 

 meadow is an eyesore on any farm. The best remedy 

 is to plow it up and run it through the regular rota- 

 tion, so as to give a chance to destroy the weeds. If 

 it is good arable land, and is not in blue-grass, 

 Bermuda grass, or alfalfa, the best plan is to keep 

 meadows down only two years, unless thej' are wanted 

 for pasture for a year or two longer. It is, of course, 

 recognized that special conditions may render it desir- 

 able to keep a meadow down for a longer time. If 

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