FARM CROPS 35 



into pasture. The land must be well drained 

 first, as it does not do to form a pasture on land 

 that is likely to have stagnant water ; even 

 mossy and rushy lands may be converted to 

 sound pasture if well drained. The next pro- 

 ceeding after draining, if it has been necessary, 

 is to lime the land, applying from three tons on 

 the lighter soils to eight on the heavier or more 

 peaty soils ; this is very necessary, as on some 

 soils the finer grasses will not flourish if the 

 land has not been limed. 



After draining and liming the land, one 

 must set about getting it into clean condition 

 and good heart. The best method of doing 

 this is to grow a good clean crop of swedes 

 and feed them off with sheep, getting cake in 

 addition ; two such crops may be taken if the 

 land be in very poor condition. A fine seed- 

 bed has now to be prepared, as grass roots are 

 very delicate, and some go so short a distance 

 in search of food that their feeding-ground 

 must be in a very fine state. After the sheep 

 have left the ground it is ploughed twice, and 

 then left till spring, when a fine and firm seed- 

 bed is produced with harrows and rollers. The 

 seeds are sown on a still day in April, and 



D 2 



