APRIL. 213 



LAYING DOWN FOR GRASS. 

 Laying arable land down to permanent grass, is 

 a work very rarely thought of by tenants. I have 

 known it sometimes done on a piece near a farm- 

 yard, for convenience, but not often. As this work 

 is designed equally for the use of both landlords- 

 and tenants, it is necessary to mention all the prac- 

 tices commonly pursued by either. I treat of the 

 preparation for it under this month, because the 

 spring is, with many, the favourite season for that 

 operation ; but, as I greatly prefer an August sow- 

 ing of grass-seeds for this purpose, I shall be brief 

 at present, reserving my principal observations for 

 that month. When sown with spring corn, it 

 should be with buck-wheat, barley, or oats. Seeds 

 take better with buck-wheat than with any other 

 crop, but April is not the best time for this plant. 

 Should it prove Mind, as the farmers call it, that is, 

 blighted and abortive, from frosts, the crop may be 

 mown for hay or for soiling. Seeds succeed, how- 

 ever, very well \\ith barley or oats; and the chief 

 caution is, to prepare the land in such a manner as 

 to render it perfectly clean. Two successive crops 

 of turnips are the most effective way of securing 

 this degree of cleanness. In the Calendar for Au- 

 gust, this point will be further considered, and the 

 proper seeds to be sown specified. 



SHEEP. 



This is the month that tries the farmer more 

 thr.n any other in the year. In the whole range of. 



P 3 husban- 



