41 & On Grass Land. 



mosses, (hypna), by which the finer species of grasses are 

 apt to be overwhelmed. Drainage, and the use of rich 

 composts, are in this case necessary. Harrowing, and cross- 

 harrowing, with a common harrow loaded with a weight, 

 so as to go. from one to two inches deep, with a sufficient 

 quantity of the seeds of the superior grasses adapted to the 

 soil, accompanied by some coal ashes, lime ( 3z7 ), or well pre- 

 pared compost, are the most likely means of destroying the 

 moss, and improving the pasture. Feeding sheep with oil- 

 cake, and allowing them to pasture on the land, has also 

 been found effectual for the destruction of moss, and bring- 

 ing up abundance of grass ( 3 * 8 ). But the radical remedy 

 is, to plough up such grass lands, upon the first appearance 

 of moss, or before it has made any considerable progress. 



6. Rich pastures in general, should rarely be mown. 

 Many valuable grass-lands have been injured by that prac- 

 tice, for they seldom afterwards fatten stock so well ( 3 * 9 ). 

 If cut, the mowing should take place early in the season, 

 before the grass-seeds ripen, and the aftermath should only 

 be fed lightly by sheep, whose droppings are more fertilis- 

 ing, and do not scald the crop, like those of black cattle. 

 It is well known that rich grass lands, when annually mown, 

 become subject to weeds ; the bottom becomes thin and 

 mossy, the white clover disappears, and coarser plants oc- 

 cupy the ground. When this takes place, manure should 

 be applied to replace the nutritive matter of the soil, ex- 

 hausted by the annual hay crop, and the pasture should be 

 fed, instead of being mown, for the'space of two or three 

 years, until the weeds have been subdued, and the finer 

 grasses re-appear ( 33 ). 



In regard to the plan of mowing and feeding alternately, it 

 is a question much disputed among intelligent agriculturists. 

 By adopting that system, a farmer, it is said, may go on 

 longer, without the application of manure, but his fields, in 

 the end, will be ruined by it. It is contended, that to 

 maintain a proper quantity of stock, the land must be ac- 

 customed to keep it, particularly in the case of sheep ; 

 that where land has been used to the scythe, if manured for 

 pastures, it will often produce more grass, but that grass 

 will not, (cceteris paribus), support so much stock, nor fatten 

 them nearly so well ; and that old pasture will not produce 

 so much hay, as land that has been constantly mowed ; for 

 each will grow best as it has been accustomed to grow, and 

 will not readily alter its former habits ( 331 )- On the other 

 hand, it is asserted, that many experienced farmers prefer 



