MEADOWS. Lands seeded down to grass to be cut for hay are termed meadows. Those used exclusively for grazing are pastures. Never theless, a meadow does not become a pasture simply because the aftermath is eaten off on the ground. The seeding of meadows is for an entirely different purpose than that of pasturage. In meadows the idea is to select such grasses as will furnish the heaviest swarth of palatable and nutritious hay, and which shall ripen together. The principal hay grasses in the United States are, North, Kentucky blue grass, orchard grass, fowl meadow grass, sm ooth stalked meadow grass, tall fescue, timothy, and red top. When Ken tucky blue grass ripens in June the other grasses will ripen as-follows : orchard grass, June; fowl meadow grass, July and August; smooth stalked meadow grass, July; tall fescue, June; timothy, July; red top, July and August. In seeding meadows more or. less clover is generally sown. If with timothy and red top as the basis, the clover must be allowed to get pretty ripe in order that the timothy may be cut when the seeds are half formed. Then the red top will be in its prime, and the clover will have thickened at the bottom. Blue grass, orchard grass, tall fescue and clover ripen nearly enough together, so they may form the meadow; fowl meadow grass and red top ripen nearly enough together so they may be fit for hay at the same time. Clover, timothy, blue grass and orchard grass like a strong, rather dry soil, red top will grow in moist soil,so will fowl meadow grass. Timothy should
not be cut close, since the bulb at the top of the ground will be injured. Clover, red top, fowl meadow, smooth stalked meadow grass, and blue grass make excellent hay for cattle and sheep. For horses, timothy, orchard grass, and blue grass make superior hay, since the hay is clean and generally free from dust. In the South, clover, blue grass, orchard grass, timothy and red top do fairly, but in the Gulf States the main dependence seems to be on crab, crowfoot, Bermuda and gama grass, which are extensively sown. What is necessary, North and South, is careful experiments with various grasses both for meadow and pasture. If a meadow is to be pastured it should not be a timothy meadow, that is intended for seed. The bulb is injured, the seeds of other grasses come in and the timo thy is ruined as a seed crop. For shipping, clean timothy sells better than any other hay, especially in city stables. At the stock yards, mixed hay is not objected to\ if well cured. In the seeding of meadows plenty of seed should be used. It gives a better stand, and finer hay. All the grasses may be sown in the latter part of summer. If the grass miss„ sow again in the spring. Clover should only be sown in the spring , and that as early as possible. (See article Grasses.)