The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-09-05
IMPROVING MEADOWS.
Ie.ter b Country Gentleman.


on account OF the diversity Of sol.
IL 4 Impossible 20 lay down a set OF
rules that will apply equally to ali lo-
ealfties. For instance. in some parts
Of our state. the soil i either sandy or
graveiiv. and j. admirably adapted TO
corn-growing while in other sections
We lind a red, compact soil, commonly
denoted as hard-pan soil, from the
fact that al a depth % from l. TO "A
inches, we find a very hard strata
through which water viii not pene-
trate. Such is the composition ot a
large share OF the soil OF Delaware
county, except along the streams.
With the exception of some lands
along the creek and river bottoms,
there i little land in this county well
adapted 70 corn. bat nowhere does
one find better crops Of potatoes, oats
or grass. especially the last two. We
frequently hear il said by Intelligent
farmers and dairyraen, grass Is our
main crop" and the object OF this
article is to give the practical results
of a few diffe. ent systems, as prac-
ticed by myself and Others in this
vicinity.
A neighbor who joins me on the
north has a farm which lies directly
upon the watershed, between the
Delaware and Susquehanna rivers,
the water from one portion OF the
the farm finding its way into one.
while that from the other or back
part OF the farm, goes to swell the
waters of the other stream.
On the southern slope lies a meadow
OF naturally moist land, which some
years ago was underdrained but not
very thoroughly. The owner used to
piow this lot every four or five years,
manure well, SOW to corn or oats for
two years, then seed to grass and as
soon AZ grass began TO fall. repeat the
operation. The result was dimin-
ished crops OF grain with light crops
OF hay following, and the land was
filled with weeds. Several years ago
he began topdressing with stable
manure. and the result has been inn
Inense crops of hay, and the weeds
have entirely disappeared.
Last year, after hayiug, ] bought
several bushels of timothy seed. and
sowed il on a meadow ! intended to
top dress during the winter. Last sea
son there was very little timoshy, this
wear there was good stand. and a
much larger yield per acre. have a
neighbor who has followed this meth
Cd for years with uniform success.
Sometimes meadows become infested
with yarr0w or some other trouble
Some weed which moving viii not kill,
and some other treatment must be
adopted. | had q meadow OF some
twelve acres. which had been mown
continuously for several years, until
the timothy and clover was about all
gone, and in It's place there was alight
growth OF ox-eye daisies. wire-grass
and yarrow. the latter very plentiful
over the entire field began blowing
this loi Immediately after having,
turning over every sod, and taking OH
what stones were turned up by the
pillow. This spring ] gave It a very
thorough harraH......g, acs4ig upon the
atiyi.cc Of friend, and occasional cor
re .pondent of the Country Gentleman,
viz. To harrow until We thought il
narrowed enough, and then call il half
done" We sowed on 80 pounds of
Bfadley's ammoniated Dissolved bone
per acre. and sowed il 70 oats. They
are now about ready TO harvest, of
heavy growth and seem well filed.
/ seeded 1t TO clover and timothy,
and there is now Il splendid catch.
intend % give the entire field good
coat Of barn manure next winter and
shall expect a heavy crop Of hay.
For a lew years worthless grass OF
weed. | hardy know what 10 cal it,
though it is commonly called June
grass, has taken possession OF many
meadows | had one piece Of three
acres from which ! cut little else last
year, Ipiowed this, too, Immediately
after having. before the larger field
above mentioned. intending TO harrow
thoroughly AMI seed at once 10 tim
othy. topdre in winter and SOW ciO-
yer in early spring Rains came on
just before I had finished narrowing,
ard il being a moist pieee ! was de-
iaved nearly three week in seeding
consequently il got bat a feeble growth
and much 90 % got winter lallea
gave the piecc'1 heavy coating Of ma
mare. and in the spring >uWcd ci tint
othv. nliNture Of medium red and
alsike clover ard red top. ] did not
expect much this year, We cut il
about the tiFst Of August and had six
loads % fine green hay. With every
promise Of \ great growth next season.
II stheTs have more impfoved meth
ois that will apply % our soil I, and
40 doubt many others. viii be glad g
learn them