CHAPTER V 



WEEDS AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LAND 



IN the case of arable land almost any kind of method 

 may be practised for the eradication of weeds, either at 

 the time of ploughing, and during the subsequent till- 

 age operations, or when the land is carrying a crop. 

 Where grass land is concerned, however, the chief 

 tillage operations are barred, and other methods must 

 be resorted to. 



Grass land is commonly termed meadow land or pasture 

 land according as it is chiefly devoted to haymaking or 

 grazing, although meadow land may be grazed to some 

 extent, while in some districts the fields are alternately 

 grazed and reserved for hay. In general, too, any grass 

 land which has existed as such for many years comes 

 under the term permanent pasture. 



Composition of the Herbage of Grass Land 



The composition of the herbage of any grass land 

 will vary to a considerable extent, according as to 

 whether it be meadow, pasture, or hill grazing lands, 

 and also according to locality, variation in soil, and 

 aspect. Alterations in the herbage also arise in conse- 

 quence of good or bad management, and the mere 

 grazing with one or other of the various classes of live 

 stock may effect considerable alterations in the char- 

 acter of the herbage. 



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