xx Notices for a Young Farmer. 



By thus recommending Dactylis glomerata for permanent 

 pasture and hay, it is not intended to cast the least reflection 

 on the clover culture. This is now so commonly practised, 

 and its uses so generally acknowledged, that it is unnecessary 

 to dwell on its excellent properties. But the clover is fuga- 

 cious; and the orchard grass, sown with it, endures in unin- 

 terrupted vigour and usefulness, when clover, in dry seasons 

 particularly, is burned or shrivelled ; or has entirely depart- 

 ed ; having lived out its short period of existence ; or having 

 been prematurely destroyed by frosts ; to which it is often a 

 victim. The clover and plaster are so congenial, and the 

 improvement of the soils suitable for them so universally 

 known, that any detailed notices of them would now be su- 

 peril uo us. 



Raise your own orchard grass seed ; and do not spare it on 

 your fields. Thin sowing throws up tufts, detached and 

 coarse. You buy, in the shops, much chaff and little seed : 

 insomuch that a bushel weighs only from 14 to 16 pounds, 

 at best; and some much less — barely sufficient fqr an acre. 

 It should be sold by weight, and not by measure. No grass 

 seed can be raised more plentifully and cheaply ; and yet the 

 expense of purchasing, has deterred its more general use. 



It will be difficult to keep an old weedy farm long in grass ; 

 and the plough must, therefore, be oftener used than a clean 

 farm requires. Yet, with composts as top dressings, and de- 

 struction of weeds, wonders may be performed in a grazing 

 system. But when the old sod is broken up, time, as well as 

 good husbandry with proper courses of crops, must be af- 

 forded. No winter grain should be sown, the first season of 

 breaking up old grass lays. The stirring and culture of that 

 and the ensuing year, are necessary to ensure the complete 

 destruction of weeds and other unprofitable vegetation. 



If you should be so fortunate as to conquer weeds and 

 prsts, and obtain a clean cover of the poa viridis, or green 

 grass, which will not grow unmixed in all soils ; it is not to 

 be told, how long your fields, with top dressings, will con- 

 linuc without being disturbed by the plough; if scarified, 

 when surface bound, by a proper instrument. This grass 



