280 IIORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



autumn-transplanted portion of the tield was observable at a 

 considerable distance, and when closely examined could 

 hardly be distinguished from old pasture land. In the like 

 proportion, the earlier spring-planted land held the same 

 superiority over the latter spring-planted ground. 



In this new mode of returning tillage-land to pasture, it is 

 also essential that the turf should be selected or taken from 

 the very best pasture, for otherwise weeds and inferior 

 grasses will be propagated. 



If the field, from which the turf is to be taken to make 

 the new pasture, is intended to be broken up for a course of 

 tillage crops, then the whole of the turf may be pared off, 

 and employed in forming the new pasture to the required 

 extent. But should the field be required to remain in per- 

 manent pasture, a portion only of the turf must be taken 

 from the field, and a sufficiency of the sward, or grass 

 plants, left standing for that purpose. 



In the first of these cases, Mr. Blaikie directs a paring- 

 plough to be used ; but if that cannot be conveniently 

 obtained, a common plough, with the coulter and share made 

 very sharp, will answer the purpose ; a wheel-plough is 

 preferable to a swing-plough for paring turfs, because it 

 goes steadier, and cuts the turf more regularly. The turf 

 should be cut about two inches and a half thick, and seven, 

 eight, or nine inches wide, according to the nature of the 

 turf-gauge of the plough, and the width of the wing of the 

 share ; it is sometimes cross-cut into short lengths, previous 

 to the operation of paring ; but this can only be effected 

 when the turf is moist, and free from stones. The cross- 

 cutting is done by a scarifier with scimetar tines, the convex 

 edges made very sharp, and faced to the work, and the 

 implement heavily weighted, so as to press the tines a proper 

 depth into the turf, into small pieces ; but it gives more 

 trouble, and increases the expense of filling into carts ; for 

 when cut into small pieces, in the first instance, it requires 

 to be filled with shovels, whereas, if left in large flags, it is 

 readily filled with forks or by the hand, when the turf is 

 tough, and hangs together. The turf is taken in carts (if 



