GRASSES FOR PASTURES, MEADOWS, LAWNS 237 



succeed so well together as do the clovers and grasses. 

 Moreover, the hay produced is more desirable than 

 that of either grasses or clovers alone, since it is more 

 nutritious than the former and cures much better than 

 the latter. 



There is, however, another still more important reason 

 why clovers or some other legumes should be grown with 

 the grasses; viz., it is our cheapest and most effective 

 means of preventing the exhaustion of nitrogen from the 

 soil. It is a matter of the utmost importance to maintain 

 this supply of nitrogen for the reasons given in Section 110. 

 To accomphsh this under ordinary farm conditions, 

 legumes must be grown in the rotation (Section 140) ; and 

 there is no time in the rotation when clovers can be con- 

 veniently grown save with the grasses. 



We may say then that it is always better to grow clovers 

 with the grasses in the rotation. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Describe briefly the characteristics of the grass family. 



2. Name six cultivated grasses and state the purpose or 

 purposes for which each is grown. 



3. Name four advantages and three disadvantages of 

 timothy. 



4. When should timothy be cut for hay, and why ? 



5. Name the advantages and disadvantages of Kentucky 

 blue grass. 



6. In what part of the country is redtop grown and in what 

 soils will it succeed? 



7. What is the usual method of propagating Bermuda 

 grass ? 



8. In what sections are the millets and sorghums found most 

 valuable, and why ? 



9. State where each of the cultivated grasses is chiefly grown. 

 10. State three reasons why clovers should be grown with the 



grasses. 



