250 nORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



management recommended for general practice in the culture of 

 plants, local circumstances may interfere so much as often to 

 render some modification of them necessary. 



But though the pasture be formed in the best manner, with a 

 combination of the most valuable grasses, nevertheless, a judicious 

 mode of treatment afterwards is as essentially necessary to con- 

 tinue its value. By proper stocking, top-dressing,* and weeding, 

 very indifferent pastures (where the soil was adapted to the growth 

 of grass) have been brought to a state equal to the most valuable ; 



* For the following valuable observations on the mode of managing grass lands 

 in Devonshire, I am indebted to A. Wilson, Esq. of Hurdwick House, near 

 Tavistock. The Devonshire farmers are very expert at preparing composts for 

 their grass lands. Compost of lime and mould : — The mould by the side of the 

 fence within the enclosure is broken up with a plough, to the width of from three 

 to six feet, varying according to the depth and quality of the soil. With a 

 mattock or broad hoe, the turf and mould broken by the plough are finely pul- 

 verized. After laying a few weeks, to become mellow, the soil is banked up to 

 the depth of a foot, giving it a level surface. Tlie lime is taken from the kiln in 

 clot, and carted on the bank of mould on which it is spread. The lime is applied 

 in the proportion of one to six ; or one cart-load of lime (ten Winchester bushels) 

 to six cart-loads of the pulverized mould. The mould on the outside of the heap 

 is thrown over the lime to keep off the wet, until a favourable opportunity for 

 incorporating the whole mass offers, which is, as soon as the lime is reduced to a 

 state of powder, and is effected by breaking down and turning over the bed of 

 mould and lime. It is tlien banked up, with a sloping ridge to throw off tiie wet, 

 in which state it rejnains from one to three or more months. It is carted on the 

 land at die rate of from 50 to 80 bushels of lime per acre, or in die state of 

 compost, from 30 to 40 cart-loads per acre. This dressing is applied at different 

 times of the year ; but it has been found to answer best in May ; the grass at that 

 season springs quickly through the dressing, and gradually settles into the ground, 

 without being injured by exposure to frost, snow, or rain. When dung is added 

 to the compost, it is at the rate of eight or twelve cart-loads per acre; it is mixed 

 with the compost of lime and mould two months after the latter has been made 

 up, and in this state remains for a month; the compost is then turned over and 

 thoroughly mixed a second time : it ought to remain, after this last turning over, 

 one month more before it is carted on the land. A bush-harrow is applied, a 

 week or two after the dressing has been spread over the surface. Tlie quality of 

 the soil of the grass lands now spoken of, is chiefly a deep brown loam, of a very 

 open texture ; it cannot bear drought, and requires to be often dressed. In the 

 course often or twelve years tlie dressing wears out, although the land has been 

 during that time constantly depastured. Where the soil is of a closer texture 

 than that now mentioned, the droppings of the stock are found sufficient to keep up 

 the fertility of the pasture. For the first five or six years after dressing grass lands 

 in this part of Devon, the herbage is remarkably luxuriant and succulent. The 

 best permanent grass lands here are found incumbent on freestone. 



