MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



51 



be the remedy for it. Sorrel seldom appears in grass- 

 lands that are so treated as to keep up a vigorous 

 growth. Its presence is a pretty good indication that 

 it is time to plow up the sod and run it through a 

 rotation which will give an opportunity to kill weeds 

 and put the land in good heart. Some old timothy 

 meadows are much overrun with plantain, especially 

 on worn soils where the grass makes a feeble growth. 

 It is unwise to keep meadows down on such soils after 

 plantain becomes troublesome. 



In middle latitudes and in the Southern States 

 broom-sedge (A?idropogo?i virginiats) is probably the 

 most troublesome weed in grass-lands. It may be 

 kept out by prompt removal with the hoe or spud as 

 soon as it appears. Broom-sedge does not bother on 

 land kept in condition to grow a good crop of grass, and 

 causes trouble only in meadows and pastures several 

 years old. When young and tender, stock eat it fairly 

 well, and this has a tendency to hold it in check in 

 pastures. When it becomes plentiful in a meadow, 

 the best plan is to break up the land and grow a culti- 

 vated crop. Brome-sedge does not invade land that is 

 plowed once or twice a year. 



Bitterweed {Helenium tenuifolium) is very trou- 

 blesome on over-stocked and poorly fertilized grass- 

 lands in many parts of the South. It is particularly 

 objectionable on dairy farms, since it affects the flavor 

 of milk very unfavorably. To get rid of it fertilize 

 well and reduce the number of stock kept on a given 

 area, so as to give the grass a chance to run out the 

 weed. Being an annual, it may also be killed by pre- 

 venting it from making seed. 



