The Improvement and Management of 

 Grass Land. 



By ANDREW SLATER, Wykeside Cottage, Lancaster. 



This is a subject of much importance to many who are connected with 

 rural pursuits, but in numerous instances it does not receive the 

 attention it deserves, as is amply exemplified in various parts of the 

 country, by the negiected-looking appearance of large tracts of land, 

 which by a moderate expenditure, judiciously laid out in drainage and 

 manure, might be brought to a high state of productiveness. 



A system of thorough drainage must be adopted with wet pastures, 

 which in itself will to a certain extent improve them, as all stagnant 

 water lodging m the land is drawn oft', and rain-water can then percolate 

 down through it, washing out of the soil in its passage any deleterious 

 matter that might be hurtful to vegetation, and also leaving in its 

 descent any fertilizing material it may contain in solution, which will 

 be absorbed by the roots of the plants. A complete change of grasses 

 will be the result, and the soil is brought to a higher temperature, 

 which forces the grasses earher in the season and hastens their growth; 

 the soil is also brought into a fit state for receiving manures. On 

 newly drained pastures, if the land is sour, or if it contains any inert 

 vegetable matter, a top dressing of lime will prove beneficial. It 

 supplies the lime which is necessary for plant growth, and combining 

 with acids in the soil, removes the sourness of the land ; also, by 

 acting on vegetable and mineral matters in the soil, it changes them 

 into soluble food for plants. 



Lime should be applied after being exposed to the weather for some 

 time, as it is said to have a more lasting effect than if put on when 

 newly slaked. On cold stiff" land, instead of laying on lime by itself, 

 it should be formed into a compost by mixing it, before it begins to fall, 

 with decayed vegetable refuse, cleanings of ditches, or any suitable 

 material that can be had : the heap should lie for two or three months, 

 and be turned a few days before applying it. After being applied it 

 should be harrowed with a chain or brush harrow, and then rolled. 



By the constant depasturing of cattle grass land will gradually 

 deteriorate, as a certain amount of fertilizing material is daily carried 

 off" in the form of flesh and milk. It is therefore necessary to keep 

 up the fertility of the land by substituting something equivalent to 

 what has been taken off". There are various chemical manures to be 



