247 



MANAGEMENT OF GRASS LANDS. 



BESIDES the immediate importance of grass, its indirect but 

 certain effect on the production of grain, by communicating 

 additional fertility to the soil, in the alternate courses of tillage 

 and pasturage, is a most important consideration. It seems, 

 indeed, beyond a doubt, that the soil not only obtains a recruit 

 of food for the nourishment of grain when cultivated, from the 

 decayed herbage, and the manure it obtains when pastured, 

 but also acquires a consistence favourable to fertility, while it 

 remains in grass, defended from the variations of the seasons, 

 under the protection of a close carpet* 



The produce of land designed for the feeding of animals, 

 may be consumed in three ways: 1. It may be eaten upon 

 the ground where it grows, which is termed pasturing. It 

 may be cut down and given to animals while it is yet green, 

 which is termed soiling; or it may be dried for preservation, 

 when it is termed hay. The plants employed for these pur- 

 poses are the different forage and herbage plants which have 

 been enumerated. The clovers, and similar plants mixed with 

 the grasses, may be applied alike to forage and herbage. They 

 form what in common language are termed the artificial or 

 cultivated grasses; and land, when producing them, is com- 

 monly said to be in grass. The seeds of the grasses and of the 

 leguminous plants are sown in spring, as has been previously 

 described, and generally upon the surface of ground sown with 

 common grain crops. When the grain, as wheat for instance, 

 is sown in autumn, the seeds of the grasses and clovers are 

 sown in the ensuing spring, upon the growing crop of grain, 

 and immediately harrowed in. But when the grain crop 

 itself is sown in the spring, the grass seeds are also sown, just 

 before the last turn of the harrow, which is followed by the 

 roller to complete the process. 



It is of the utmost importance that all the seeds sown arc of 

 the right kind, fresh, well and perfectly ripened; and especial 

 care must be taken that they be free from the seeds of weeds; 

 this point requires the greatest caution. Sowing the seed is 

 performed either by the hand, broadcast, or by machinery con- 

 structed for this purpose. Grass seeds cannot be sown too 

 evenly and to ensure an even or regular disposition of the 



* Sir JOHN SINCLAIR'S Code of Agriculture, p. 270. 



