Book VI. BREAKING UP GRASS LANDS. 



911 



5860. There are many cases where this doctrine, though in general to be recommended owht not to be 

 carried to its full extent. In Norfolk, where the land is commonly light, and where the sheep are both 

 bred and fed upon the same farm, a proportion of permanent pasture is essential. Much injury in parti 

 cular, has been sustained by breaking up permanent pasuires on such soils, more especially when subject 

 to rectorial tithes. Many lands of an inferior soil, which kept two sheep on an acre, paying only vicarial 

 tithes, and rented at ten shillings per acre, since they have been broken up cannot pav, even without rent 

 the tithe of corn and the expense of cultivation. A farm in general lets best with a fair proportion of 

 grass laud upon it, which admits of a mixed management; in consequence of which if one obiect fails 

 another may be successful 



5861. With respect to the disadvantages of breaking -up pastures, it is alleged in The Code 

 of Agriculture, that there is a risk of tenants breaking through their engagements (p. -47:5. 

 3d edit.) ; by which we suppose is to be understood, the chance of their taking a few 

 good crops from the newly broke-up lands, and then leaving the farm. Tenants who 

 would do this must certainly be as wicked as the landlords who would put in their power 

 would be imbecile. No other disadvantage is stated, and this may safely be left to work 

 its own cure. 



Subsect. 3. Breaking up Grass Lands, and afterward* restoring them to Grass. 



5862. On the subject of breaking up and laying down gr a ss lands, the following parti- 

 culars are discussed in the Code of Agriculture, as the result of the information communi- 

 cated to the Board : — Whether any previous steps are necessary before lands in n-rass are 

 broken up? the proper mode of effecting that object ; the course of crops; the manure 

 necessary ; the system of management during the rotation ; the mode of laying down 

 the land again to grass ; that of sowing the grass-seeds ; and the subsequent management. 



5863. If the land be wet, it is advisable to drain it completely, previously to its beino- 

 broken up ; for it is not improbable that its being kept in pasture was partly on account 

 of its wetness. 



586+. Land that has been long in pasture does not require dung during the first course of crops that is 

 taken after being broken up; but the application of calcareous manure is always, in such cases, expedient 

 Sometimes lime is spread on the ground before it is ploughed ; at other times when it is either under 

 summer. fallow, or a drilled crop of turnips. Marl and chalk also have been used for the same purpose 

 with great advantage. The land thence derives additional strength and vigour; the succeeding crops are 

 much improved ; the soil is commonly so softened in its texture, that it may be ploughed with half the 

 strength that would otherwise be necessary ; and whenever it is restored to grass, the herbage is abundant 



5865. Wherever the soil is not too shallow, nor of a friable nature, or when the turf 



cannot soon be rotted, if land is to be broken up from old pasture, the system of paring 



and burning is proper. In this way, good tilth is speedily procured ; the damage that 



might otherwise be sustained by the grub, the wire-worm, and other insects, is avoided 



while the soil receives a stimulus which ensures an abundant crop. 



58661 IHicre paring and burning cannot take place, the land maybe trenched or double-ploughed. This 

 is effected by means of two ploughs following each other, the first plough taking off'a thin surface of about 

 three inches, and the second going deeper in the same place, covering the surface-sod with line mould • 

 both furrows not exceeding the thickness of the vegetable mould or other good soil. If the land is ploughed 

 with one furrow, the operation ought to be performed before winter, that it may receive the benefit of the 

 succeeding frosts, by which the success of the future operations will not only be" promoted, but most of the 

 insects lodged in the soil will be destroyed. When one furrow alone is taken, the best size is four inches 

 and a half deep by eight or nine broad. The strain on horses in ploughing ley land is mostly from the 

 depth. 



5867. The rotation of crops to be adopted, when grass lands are broken up, must partly 

 depend upon the soil, and partly on the manner in which it is prepared for cultivation. 

 As a general principle, however, it may be laid down, that unless by the course of crop- 

 ping to be pursued the bad grasses and other plants indigenous to the soil are extirpated, 

 they will, when the land is again laid down to grass, increase and prevail with more 

 rapidity and effect than seeds chosen by the farmer ; and the consequence must be, a 

 heavy disappointment in the future crops of grass, perhaps solely, or at least principally, 

 attributable to a previous defective management. It is necessary, therefore, to enter 

 into details upon this subject as applicable to clay, chalk, peat, loam, and sand. 



5868. Clay. The process of conversion in clayey soils should be commenced with paring and burning 



especially where the grub is suspected. The following course may then be adopted : 1. Rape, fed with 



sheep; 2. beans; .'5. wheat; 4 beans; 5. wheat; 6. fallow; 7. wheat, sown with grass. seeds. This mav 

 seem severe cropping, but it is justified by experience when old grass clay-land is broken up. If the lani 

 has not been pared and burnt, the first crop ought to be either oats or dibbled beans To do justice to the 

 plan of restoring the land to grass, there ought to be, in all cases, according to the soil, either a naked or 

 turnip fallow, before the sowing of grass-seeds is attempted. But on mellow loamy clay land, consisting 

 of fine old grass pasture, where it is thought necessary or advisable to break up such land, it should be 

 done in detached pieces, so as to suit the convenience of the occupier, and the following course should be 

 adopted: — 1. Autumnal ploughing for oats in spring ; 2. fallow for rape, to be eaten with sheep; S. beans; 

 4. wheat, sown with clover; 5. clover; 6. clover; 7. wheat; 8. rape, to be partially eaten, and hoed in 

 spring, and to stand for seed ; and 9. wheat with grass-seeds. This is a very profitable rotation, and ap. 

 plicable to the best graz : ng land in Lincolnshire. 



5869. Chalk. Faring and burning are considered in this case to be indispensable as a preparation for 

 turnips, which ought, where manure can be got, to be raised two years in succession ; then, barley, clover, 

 wheat ; and, after one or two additional crops of turnips, the land may be laid down with saintfoin to 

 great advantage. 



5870. Peat. On this soil paring and burning are essentially necessary. Under a judicious system, the 

 greatest and quickest profit is thus secured to the farmer, with advantage to the public, and \% ithout injury 

 to the landlord. Draining also must not be neglected. The crops to be grown on peat soils are, 1. rape 

 or potatoes; 2. oats; 3. turnips; 4 oats or wheat; and 5. clover or grass-seeds. A liberal application 



