HOKTUS GKAMINEUS WOIi U KNE N SI S. 223 



The defect ol' sandy soils in germinating seeds is clearly 

 owing to the sudden deprivation of moisture which they 

 suffer when a course of dry weather commences just before, 

 after, or at the time the seed begins to vegetate. For when 

 sandy dry soils are duly supplied with moisture, seeds sown 

 on such, sooner vegetate than on any other kind of soil, 

 whether of a richer or more tenacious nature. 



The manner of growth of tares offers a remedy for the 

 defect of white grain, or upright growing crops. The stems 

 of tares spread out and shade the surface of the soil from 

 the effects of the sun. But, unless tares are sown very 

 thin, they will be found to destroy the seedling grasses, by 

 excluding the air. In every instance, however, where the 

 seeds of annuals are sown with the perennial grass seeds, it 

 should be remembered, that every plant of these occupies a 

 space, to the detriment of the expected sward ; and the 

 results of all my experiments perfectly agree in confirming 

 the opinion, that for permanent pasture, the grasses sown 

 should be free from any admixture of annual, or white grain 

 crops. 



The results of all the experiments on light sandy soils, 

 tend to confirm the opinion before expressed, respecting the 

 superiority of depasturing or mowing seedling grasses tiie 

 first year. Oxen are liable to poach the surface ; and horses 

 and sheep weaken the seedling plants, by cropping too near 

 the roots. Sheep are evidently the least hurtful. By fre- 

 quently rolling the surface, and mowing the produce, the 

 young plants establish themselves better in the ground, and 

 all of the plants raised are preserved ; but by leaving the 

 plants to perfect their seed the first year, and excluding 

 cattle, the young plants are deprived of the benefit of the 

 manure supplied by the sheep, which, at this stage of the 

 growth of seedling grasses, is more particularly valuable on 

 a soil of this nature than on rich ancient pasture land ; as 

 the roller, when used judiciously, presses the droppings into 

 the surface of the ground, and brings the manure in contact 

 with the fibrous roots of the plants. It is evident, however, 

 that all the benefits accruing to the plants from depasturing 

 the first year, may be supplied by a top-dressing in the 



