666 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



No. 11 



such extraordinary results could hardly have been 

 expected, from what are called the artificial grass- 

 es, even ii' they were sown without a corn crop ;" 

 and he has stated that other experiments on various 

 soils, and on extensive scales, have proved to 

 him, "that, with clean preparation and, judicious 

 manuring, any land may be brought in a couple 

 of years into a state ol" permanent meadow or pas- 

 ture, nearly ap[)roaching to that ol'an ancient dale, 

 by sowinij the seeds of the appropriate o;rasses." 

 But, althouii'h entertaininir the highest opinion of 

 his judgment, yet in this instance we are inclined 

 to doubt its accuracy, as all the information which 

 we have been able to collect from other quarters 

 shows that, after the first year or two, the luxuri- 

 ance of the herbage declines, and is only after a 

 long time so gradually renovated, as to acquire the 

 richness and elasticity which is peculiar to an old 

 sward. There, indeed, can be no doubt, that, by 

 a skilful selection of the grasses most appropriate 

 to the soil, a crop of herbage may be obtained of 

 a quality so rich as to exceed that of the natural 

 pasture durinij a short period ; but that external 

 coat composed of the tufts of grass or green turf^ 

 which we distinctively call sward, is formed by the 

 roots, both alive and dead, and by the mould 

 created by the decomposition of the latter, and 

 therefore, can only be produced in a long course of 

 years. 



Management. 



The grasses, when sown, should be combined 

 with perennial red and white clover, in various 

 pro|)ortions, adapted to the distinct properties of 

 the land ; for althoucrh grasses differ from eacli 

 other in their habits of growth— some putting forth 

 foliage, ripenino" their seeds at different seasons, 

 and yieldinii: d liferent qualities and weight of pro- 

 duct — yet, should it be attempted to produce a rich 

 sward by sowing the seeds of only one species of 

 grass, it will be found, that however closely (he 

 seeds may be sown, and the seedling plants may 

 cover the surlace, yet a considerable number of 

 them will certainly decay, leaving blank spaces to 

 be filled up, either by the accidental mixture of 

 seeds blown from natural pastiuTS in the vicinity, 

 or by those of weeds. It is, indeed, a law of the 

 natural economy of permanent grasses, to grow 

 densely and promiscuously together ; for they are 

 found, side liy side, in the richest natural pastures 

 in such variety, that twenty diffl^rent species, con- 

 taining more than a thousand distinct roots, have 

 been collected Irom one square toot of surface. It 

 is, however, essentially necessary that the seeds 

 be genuine and pure, as well as of the last year's 

 growth, and that they be so intimately intermixed, 

 that, if possible, two plants of the same kind, 

 should not grow up together. But if the propor- 

 tion which will be hereafter mentioned be sown 

 in sufficient quantities to stock every part of the 

 land — and with an appropriate selection of plants, 

 there can be little doubt, that, if the soil be other- 

 wise properly mana.ied, the seedling graces will 

 be sustained, and may be brought to assume the 

 character of rich pasture or meadow. 



The manafrement of the soil can, however, be 

 only judiciously effected when the land is intended 

 to be laid down, by renderinu; it in every respect 

 as perfect as it can be made by previous tillage 

 and manure, either through draining, paring and 



burning, or completely summer fallowing; and by 

 the application of farm-yard dung, lime, chalk, 

 marl, ashes, clay or sand, as circumstances may 

 require; then, by carefully extirpating all root- 

 weeds durino; the next and fbllowino; season, by 

 which time the surface will become closely covered 

 with a thick and permanent sward. It should not 

 only be perfectly clean and well pulverized, but 

 the ridges should, be levelled, and the furrows filled 

 in, so as to render the surface quite uniform, and 

 the seeds should be sown on a Iresh tilth, finely 

 harrowed. As regularity in delivery of the seeds 

 is a point of the utmost importance, an expert 

 seedsman should be employed, and they should 

 never be sgwn either in windy weather, or when 

 the ground is so wet as to occasion the least de- 

 gree of poaching. They are, indeed, sometimes 

 sown by machines, in drills, in which they can 

 certainly be evenly distributed, but the spaces be- 

 tween the lines inust still be left void, and an ex- 

 perienced and cardial workman can sow them 

 perhaps more effectually broadcast. The light 

 sorts should, however, be divided fi'om those which 

 are heavy, and they should be sown separately; 

 for, although this will occasion more casts than 

 one, yet the trouble of going several times over 

 the ground, is not to be put in competition with 

 the equal distr bulion of the seed.* They should 

 then he. lightly, but well covered in with harrows 

 — not heavy, but fiirmed with closely-set and very 

 short teeth or lines; and if the soil is either spongy, 

 or porous, it should be afterwards lightly rolled ; 

 though a large fold of five or six yards to each 

 sheep, is a better mode of performing the latter. 

 If the land be very light, or at all clotty, it is like- 

 wise advantafjeous to pass a light roller over it 

 immediately previous to sowing the seeds. On 

 strong land, however, rolling is not necessary; 

 and as it is material, even on the very driest soil, 

 to avoid the use of horses as much as possible on 

 the ground after it is sown, it is very desirable to 

 cover the seed with large hand-rakes, instead of 

 harror/s, so as wholly to prevent the foot-marks ot 

 the cattle. 



The best lime of sowing is, as we have already 

 stated, in the early part of autumn — some persons 

 even recommend the latter end of July ;t but 

 there can be no doubt, thai, if the land can be got 

 perfectly clean, it may also be advaiitageously per- 

 formed in the spring. If the first plan be adopted, 

 and the succeeding winter should prove severe, it 

 is, however, not improbable that some of the seed- 

 ling plants will lifil, and therefore a small addition- 

 al quantity of seed should be sown some time in 

 February, or not later than the first fortnight of 

 March, and then well rolled down, as the roots of 

 the earl3'-sown grasses may have been loosened 

 by the winter's frost. If the land has been pre- 

 viously limed, pared and burnt, or marled, this 

 will also be found the best time lor laying 6n the 

 farm-yard manure, which is necessary to aflbrd 

 nourishment and strength to the roots; and even 



* The weiijhts of the seeds differ so materially, that 

 while those of most of the clover species exceed (jO lbs., 

 per imperial bushel ; that of rib-grass, 50 lbs.; of mea- m 

 dovv cat's-tail, 40 lbs.; and the dilferent varieties of .■ 

 rye-jjrass vary from 18 to 30 lbs.; yet most of the poa m 

 and fescue tribes are under 15 lbs., and many of the 

 other grasses below 10 lbs. 



t Bailey's Survey of Durham, p. 181. 



