382 SOWING GRASS-SEED. 



weeds. The former are nearly as spontaneous on 

 good soils as the latter are on poor ones. The suc- 

 cess will depend chiefly on good culture, if this mode 

 is adopted. 



Third, To scarify the surface thoroughly with a 

 sharp-tooth harrow, sowing on a suitable mixture of 

 grass-seeds spoken of above, and then harrow and brush 

 over again, the work to be done in September or very 

 early in spring, if the surface is hard enough to go over 

 with cattle without too much poaching. This applies 

 to old pastures covered with moss, where the sweet 

 grasses are run out, but which, from their particular 

 location, may not be desirable for woodland, nor pay 

 for a more complete and careful improvement. 



Fourth, To mix the grass-seeds as evenly as possible 

 with a finely-divided compost, and use it as a top-dress- 

 ing, first harrowing the surface to loosen it, and, after 

 spreading the compost, brushing it over with a brush 

 harrow to break up the lumps. This will cost a little 

 more than the preceding method, but the grass-seed 

 will start sooner, make a larger and finer growth the 

 first season, and give greater satisfaction. This applies 

 to very much the same class of lands as the preceding. 

 In both cases, if the pasture or any part of it is cov- 

 ered with bushes, they should of course be cut or 

 grubbed up ; if it is wet or covered with stagnant 

 waters, they should of course be drained off, so as at 

 least to leave a dry and healthy surface. It is unneces- 

 sary to say that the top-dressing should be free from 

 weed-seed, and be in a finely divided state. This method 

 of improvement is perfectly practicable on thousands of 

 acres which are now in a state both discreditable and 

 unprofitable to their owners. 



Fifth, To pasture sheep, turning in as many as the 

 pasture will carry, stocking, in other words, pretty 



