IV 
MEADOWS AND PASTURES (Concluded) 
LONGEVITY OF MEADOWS 
i HE length of time a meadow will last depends 
on the grasses of which it is composed, on 
the climate and the character 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 fa@, they increase in productiveness 
for some years after they are laid down. Meadows of 
other grasses usually produce their largest yield the . 
first year a crop is obtained, and will drop to about half 
this amount in one or two years more unless well 
manured, Even with good manuring, meadows of the 
common hay grasses of this country seldom remain as 
productive as they were the first year. 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, o1 alfalfa, the best plan is to keep 
meadows down only two years, unless they 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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