722 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Dec, 1917. 



" White Bent Grass," or " Fiorin Grass, is a perennial grass, showing 

 a predilection for moisture. It is valuable as an admixture to many 

 other grasses, as it becomes available at the season when some of them, 

 fail. 



Hints on Sowing Grass Lands. 



By means of artificial sowing, not only double, but in some cases four 

 times _the amount of food may be obtained from a given area of land 

 than it would produce under natural grasses. The method of preparing 

 the land for sowing grass varies according to the soil, climate, and con- 

 dition. New or cultivated land should be turned up by ploughing the 

 previous season, and on the approach of seed-time, broken up with culti- 

 vator, rolled and harrowed. It is preferable to sow seed in autumn, 

 after the land has had suiBcient moisture from rains. A light grass- 

 seed harrow should be used for covering the seed, and the ground 

 tben rolled. The land should be well covered with seed — about 

 40 lbs. to the acre on ordinary soils. The proportion of the 

 different kinds of seeds to use will, of course, depend on the nature of 

 the soil and the kind of stock it is intended to graze. To ensure good 

 permanent pasture lands, it is advisable that they shovild not be grazed 

 too bare in the summer. Good management is necessary, and stock 

 should be put in paddocks alternately, so that each area may have time 

 to recuperate. 



In soils that are not very rich, a dressing with manure is advisable. 

 A very satisfactoiy fertilizer consists of 1 ewt. of superphosphate, i cwt. 

 sulphate of ammonia, and i cwt. of sulphate of potash, which impart 

 phosphoric acid, nitrogen, and potash respectively. Pastures treated with 

 these ingredients will hold for fully five years, and probably be in better 

 condition at the end of that time than before treatment. Clovers of 

 all kinds are greatly benefited by a dressing of lime — a fair quantity 

 being about half a ton to the acre — and the early spring is a good time 

 to apply it. The lime should be air-slacked by exposing it in small 

 heaps to the weather, and then spread evenly over the surface. 



Selection of Grasses. 



Before concluding this brief review of some of our best known grasses 

 it should be mentioned that the proper kinds for pastures must depend 

 on several circumstances, such as soil, drainage, habit of growth, produc- 

 tions, &c. No one kind of grass can be expected to be adaptable to all 

 conditions, neither can any given mixture of grasses. For example, 

 one man finds a certain grass to be very productive on his farm, and he 

 thinks he has found the great desideratum, and at once praises it, and 

 recommends its use, without regard to the conditions which may be 

 absolutely necessary to its success. Another man purchases the new 

 seed, perhaps at an exorbitant price, and without a knowledge of its 

 peculiar habits, gives it a trial, and finds it a failure, probably on ac- 

 count of climate, soil, or other condition^ being unsuitable for its wants. 



Mr. Sutton, writing on this subject, says : — " The whole question is 

 one of experience, and I am well persuaded that those who possess the 

 largest knowledge drawn from the widest sources, will concur in the 

 opinion that each individual ease should be considered independently, 

 and upon its own merits. I would lay great stress on the necessity of 

 a clear understanding of the conditions, and capability of the soil. The 



