256 CARE OF GRASS LANDS. 



lowed ^ but even here we are satisfied that it would pay the 

 farmer much better, and he would obtain a better sod and nearly 

 as quickly if he should take the ' wildness ' out of the land with 

 two or three grain crops before seeding." 



CHAPTER XI. 

 CARE OF GRASS LANDS. 



Permanent Pasture vs. Alternate Husbandry. — Fifty- 

 five correspondents in a recent report in England agree that " It 

 is certainly unadvisable to break up any tolerably good pastures 

 for the purpose of converting them into arable land." 



With his experience and observation in mild and moist Europe, 

 Bousingault believed that there is no system of rotation, however 

 well conceived and carried out, which will stand comparison in 

 point of productiveness with a natural meadow properly situated 

 and properly attended to. 



In 1881, nearly half the land occupied for agricultural purposes 

 in Great Britain was in permanent pasture and meadow, and the 

 proportion is on the increase. In Ireland the proportion is still 

 greater in favor of permanent grass land. The proportion is 

 greatest where the air contains most moisture. 



The late George Geddes, in the Country Gentleman for 1882, 

 reports a discussion of the Onondaga Farmers' Club. Men who 

 had moist lands, with water under them, believed in permanent 

 pasture. Men Avho cultivated dry soils, well adapted to a rotation 

 of crops, easily plowed, and especially subject to severe droughts, 

 were very decided in the opinion that permanent pastures are of 

 little value as compared with grain crops, and hay and pasture 

 in rotation. Rocky land and steep hillsides are best kept in 

 grass. The amount of i-ain-fall has much importance in deciding 



