AfjricultiLre of Durham. 105 



Assortment and Proportions of Grass Seeds, recommended by W. Drnmmond 

 and Sons, for laying down permanent pasture, on medium soil, per acre. 



^ bushel Pacey's perennial rye-grass £0 3 



5 ,, Italian rye-grass 2 9 



3 lb. of Timothy 16 



3 lb. of hard fescue 19 



4 lb. of meadow fescue 2 4 



2 lb. of meadow foxtail 02 



3 lb. of cocksfoot 16 



1 lb. of rouLrh-stalkcd mcadow-aiass 9 



1 lb. of wood meadow-grass 10 



1 lb. of evcrizroen 013 



1 lb. of trefoil 4 



3 lb. of cow-grass 2 3 



5 lb, of white clover 4 2 



Price in 1854 £14 5 



Hote. — Perhaps in estimating the price per acre, you should say ranging 

 from 23s. to 27s. We generally vary the mixture according to the nature 

 of the soil, &c. ; and where expense is an object, we woxdd probably keep out 

 a little of the expensive grasses ; and where expense is no object, -we would 

 recommend tlie addition of 2 lbs. of alsike clover, and keep out perhaps 1 lb. 

 of each cow-grass and white. 



In the breaking up of old grass lands, paring and burning the 

 surface used to be invariably the first stop. This is still occa- 

 sionally done in this county, though not so much as formerly. 

 It has been more frequently ploughed up without paring ; well 

 harrowed after lying, and the weeds gathered and burnt. For 

 the first crop, after ploughing out, oats is preferred by some, 

 and turnips by others. It is not often that grass land is per- 

 mitted to bo ploughed out, and when it is, there is generally an 

 agreement for an equal quantity to be laid away in some other 

 part of the farm. 



There is many a discussion goes on amongst the agriculturists 

 of this county on the subject of breaking up the old grass land. 

 A few are to be met with who would keep no permanent grass 

 at all, arguing that, with the present improvements in imple- 

 ments, and with the extent of draining that has been accom- 

 plished, it would be found far more profitable to grow a larger 

 extent of green crops, and bring up both horses and cattle by 

 stall or box- feeding, or in the farmyard. The greatest number 

 of our farmers are, however, only prepared to admit the advantage 

 of stall feeding so far as it regards l)easts to bo fattened off for 

 the butcher; and tiiev wholly deny that it can bo conducive to 

 the health of horses, or even of cows kept for milking. 'Inhere 

 is no questicm then, but our usual extent of permanent grass will 

 be kej)t up ; and, whilst this is the case, it ought to be our care 

 to bring the pastures into a good c<mdlti<)n. Throughout great 

 portions of the county they are not so at present. >k early all our 



