periods. It is difficult to prepare low-lying wet soils for
cereals in the early spring, and river flats are apt to be badly
washed and furrowed by floods unless retained by sods. The
annual deposit of sediment from spring freshets usually
maintains the fertility of river flats left in permanent meadow,
and if the most suitable grasses are well-established large
yields of good hay may be obtained for many years. Fertilizing
meadows of long duration is common in Europe, less frequent in
the eastern provinces of Canada, and not at all general inland.
A dressing of well-rotted farmyard manure applied in the early
spring every two or three years is highly beneficial, and is the
best way to maintain an upland meadow in good condition. The
decaying manure spread over the surface forms a mulch that helps
to retain the moisture. Clovers are often benefited by potash
and gypsum or other form of lime, but are little affected by
nitrogenous manures. Old meadows respond quickly to an
application, at the commencement of t