Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-17
M..i,z IS eesa Msaae"*.

Ma.iny of G>sd Meadow.
| Our average meadows are like our
| average wheat fields-,hey do not
produce crops that pay enough net
nrnrf,s over .ha cost OF maintaining
and handling them. Two and three
tons OF hay to the acre are often boast
ed OF but a scant ton to the acre
| would come more nearly to the annual
| average. Many meadows fall far short
of ton 10 the acre.
The main trouble with the average
| meadow is that the soil Is not suffi
GENTLY filled with the right kind OF
plant foods to make the hay plants
grow large Another defect is that II
is deficient in humus. the result be-
ing that the soil dries out too quick :
~ In wet seasons the hay crop will
be reasonably good, while In dry sea-
sons 1t will be scarcely worth cutting.
OF all lands. hay fields should be well
supplied with hurnus material TO make
the soil retentive of moisture. Album
dance of moisture In the soil is whas
makes the large hay crop. other things
being equal. Since the crop can NOT
be cultivated in dry times. the meadow
o, the farm should be on soil that will
hold moisture for long time in dry
weather.
One of the best places for meadow
on sloping and hiliy land is in. small
valleys of the farm. II these places
the soil is usually fertile ana moister
than In other places: that is. moister
than or the higher land. Where the
small valleys are In meadow. not, only
will the sod prevent erosion and de-
49,, x.-th
sediment and gradually build the sol.
deeper and more fertile. A friend o.
the writer is fruit grower on billy
farm. The fruit trees and bushes are
on high land, while all Of the irregu-
| larry shaped valleys are IN permanent
redtop meadows. This grass is a good
| binder OF the soil. When the sod be-
comes well formed it will effectively
F. prevent soil erosion, and small bitches
and Expressions will soon be filled with
made soil to level the valley floor and
cause 1t 70 continually rise. which
| means a deepening and enrichment of
the soil. These small orchard valleys.
| the fruit grower asserts, become more
| productive of hay every year. The
surface IL kept smooth and level and
| the valley floors continually rise as
| the soil from the hills Is washed down
upon them. The same system Of keep
ing narrow valleys Of general farms in
| permanent meadows Is effective for
maintaining good meadows and for
preventing sol, loss. In one case. the
| writer knows the farmer has a small
valley in meadow hmm sdiately below
his barns and stock lots. With every
heavy rain sheet Of liquid manure is
ca rried over the valley meadow 10 feed
the grass plants. Soil and drift OF all
! kinds are also washed over the grass
covered valley TO smooth the surface
and deepen the soil. as the trash Is ef-
| fectively caught and held by the grow
Ing plants or the stubble.
! Since 1t pays well TO prepare the sol
well before seeding for corn and other
| cultivated crops. SO does II for ths
seeding Of a meadow. II possible, the
land should be plowed several weeks
| in advance OF seeding and allowed tt
+, weather and settle. After plowihl
and before seeding IL Is well to har-
| row and disc several times to kill on.
young weeds that may appear. II II
| quite important to kill out all peren
| NAL weeds, the kinds that come vi
! from the roots every year and live OF
In the Same place from year to year
!; Both before and after blowing, tn,
more manure that can be scattered
/ on the soil the better the future ha:
/ plants will be fed. Many do not con
slider that hay plants must be fed lib
orally to make large and vigoroui
growth. They suppose that any kim
Of soil viii do which IL not the care
It Is as unreasonable to expect a larg,
yield Of hay from sterile ground as Il
is to expect large yield OF potatoe
or corn from the same kind OF land
Fertilizers will pay on hay land as vel
as on land for other crops for ha.
now brings relatively as high price,
es the other crops. 1t can be made a.
profitable, or moro so, than corn. cot
ton or wheat. II enough fertility Il
placed in the soil to make It produce
heavily. BY preparation and fertile
! ing Of the soil the hay crop can b,
doubled. with perhaps less expense ant
i labor than the doubling Of wheat Of
corn crop. The kind of fertilizer uset
will depend upon the soil and the kint
of hay plants grown. For instance
redtop will thrive well on comparative
/ ly sour land where timothy wouid
i make only fair crop, and clover, Of
! alfalfa would be total failures Mea.
dows to be seeded to clover or alfalfa
should be well drained. sweet and wei
Isupplied with both organic matter and
lime Phosphate will increase the ha,