248 MANAGEMENT OF GRASS LANDS. 



seeds on the ground, many good farmers prefer sowing each 

 kind, when applied in sufficient quantities, by different casts. 

 They estimate the advantages of even sowing far greater than 

 the mere extra labour and time consumed in carrying out their 

 plans. Uniformity of delivery is a point of the greatest con- 

 sequence; and the lighter grass seeds should never be sown 

 in windy weather or in wet seasons. The proportions in 

 which the different kinds of clovers and grasses may be sown 

 together depends, as we have already remarked, on the longer 

 or shorter period for which the land is to remain in grass. 



The principal thing in the choice of grasses is, to sow only 

 such in the same field as ripen nearly at the same time. By 

 this means finer hay will be obtained than by any other method, 

 and there will be much less trouble in making it. 



In laying down land to grass permanently, the seeds may 

 be sown in autumn as well as in spring, without any grain crop, 

 it affording a quicker and better sward; but then it is by the 

 sacrifice of a crop of grain, which is too great to be disregard- 

 ed in the practice of the farm. This system, therefore, cannot 

 be recommended, especially as there is no difficulty, under good 

 management, of getting the seeds of grasses and clovers to 

 vegetate under the shade of grain in sufficient abundance to 

 stock the ground; and in the forming of the meadow, there- 

 fore, there can seldom be a reason for deviating from the sim- 

 ple and economical practice of sowing the seeds of the herbage 

 and forage plants along with the crop of grain. 



The seeds when sown, will quickly vegetate, the plants 

 springing up under the shelter of the larger crop; and in 

 autumn, when the grain is gathered, they will be found cover- 

 ing the surface. It is the practice of some to have the ground 

 slightly depastured by sheep in autumn, when it has acquired 

 sufficient growth to afford a bite; but this, in our estimation, is 

 a bad practice. Upon no consideration whatever should heavy 

 cattle be admitted to the field, as they would most essentially 

 injure it; and when it is deemed necessary to have it cropped 

 by sheep, they should be permitted to remain upon it only for 

 a short time. 



In the following season, the plants may be consumed in either 

 of the ways already mentioned, which are as follows: 1. They 

 may be depastured with live stock. 2. They may be mown 

 several times during the season for green forage, and the after- 

 math depastured. 3. They may be made into hay and the 

 aftermath depastured. 



Permanent pastures may be divided into two kinds rich 

 or feeding lands, and hilly or rearing pastures. Under the 

 former are comprehended all old rich pastures capable of fat- 



