IRISH GARDENING. 



105 



manured, it is a practice strongly to be con- 

 demned. He gives reasons which hold good for 

 this country also. 



It is common knowledge that the eradication 

 of weeds, and drainage where necessary, are 

 essential for the production of good grazing. 



How grazing may be improved by ploughing 

 the ground is next discussed. It should be borne 

 in mind that it is only the poorer grass lands are 

 referred to. 



The author points out : " The manurial vakxe of 

 White Glover and other leguminous herbs must 

 be insisted upon, for it is only by turning this 



in Ireland, and are of doubtful advantage, as rape 

 is seldom of any value unless well manured 

 itself, or sown after a well-manured crop. 



There are some statements in the paper which 

 would not appeal to practical farmers in this 

 country at all events. For example, "It is 

 deplored on all sides that the ploughing season 

 avitomatically ceases in ilarch or early April." 

 The experience of most farmers is that they have 

 just as much work during the summer months 

 as it is possible to attend to. Into the bargain, 

 in dry weather, the land is so hard, it is exceed- 

 ingly difficult to plough. 



1st Pijizf. Flower IJorder, Belfast, 1916. 



(See '■ Nofps " in last issue.) 



fundamental fact to full account that the best 

 I'esults are to be achieved." 



A comparatively new idea which might com- 

 mend itself to some farmers is incidentally 

 mentioned — viz., that where two crops of corn in 

 succession are taken off lea land, it is a good plan 

 to sow a certain amount of Italian Ryegrass and 

 Red Clover with the Corn crop, to afford some 

 useful autumnal grazing, and make for enhanced 

 fertility. This has been tried in Ireland, and is 

 open to one serious objection — in some seasons, 

 when the straw is short, the clover and grass get 

 up almost as high as the grain, and make the corn 

 extremely difficult to " wind." Besides, when the 

 harvest is cut late, growth afterwards is scanty. 



" Rape pastures " are also recommended. 

 These have not been tried, except in isolated cases 



" Seed ]Mixtvires " are next dealt with, and are 

 treated in an instructive and practical manner. 



The writer points out — this applies to Ireland 

 quite as much as to Great Britain — that far too 

 much dependence is placed on Perennial Ryegrass 

 and Red Clover, while a few err in the opposite 

 direction by sowing expensive seeds that give no 

 results Amongst these latter are included such 

 plants as Golden Oat Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass, 

 Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass, &c. 



Many seemingly trifling, but yet vastly impor- 

 tant, points are mentioned in connection with the 

 various grasses. Cocksfoot is stated to be " the 

 most valuable grass for temporary leys on poor 

 soils." This is corroborated by the experience 

 of many farmers in Ireland. Meadow Fescue and 

 Meadow Foxtail are, by general consent, excellent 



