228 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



manent pasture and in a less degree permanent meadow. 

 When these meadows and pastures are broken, however, 

 it should be followed as in the case of other grasses by- 

 crops that luxuriate in decaying vegetable matter such 

 as the small cereal grains, corn and potatoes. It is espe- 

 cially important that this grass shall be sown on a sur- 

 face made clean by the processes of cultivation, because 

 of the long time that it takes to become established. 

 Otherwise weeds will crowd and smother the plants. 



Preparing the Soil. — In preparing the soil for mead- 

 ow foxtail, fineness, firmness, moistness, richness, and 

 cleanness should be sought, especially the conditions 

 last named. The plants being delicate at the first grow 

 slowly, hence, unless the conditions are quite favorable 

 when this grass is sown alone it is much liable to be 

 smothered with weeds ; when the soil is not naturally rich 

 it should be fertilized with reasonably well decomposed 

 farmyard manure or by applying artificial fertilizers 

 particularly such as are reasonably rich in nitrogen. 

 When sown with other grasses to provide permanent 

 pasture the preparation that will be suitable in making 

 a seed bed for such pastures will also be suitable for 

 meadow foxtail. (See p. 385.) 



Sowing. — The seed of meadow foxtail may be sown in 

 the autumn or in the spring in climates not so stern as 

 to preclude autumn sowing. In the New England and 

 middle states it is better to sow in the spring and early 

 in order to take advantage of all the moisture of the 

 season. In the southern stales and beyond the Cascade 

 mountains it may be sown in the autumn, preferably as 

 soon as the autumn rains come. 



