IMPROVEMENT OF- GRASS-LANDS. 151 



thought advisable, say from six inches to a foot, and 

 of a width according to the strength intended to be 

 employed in drawing it. The blades should be oc- 

 casionally whetted to preserve their edge, and the. 

 implement should be used when the ground is in a 

 moderate state of moisture, and the grass short. If 

 the land is poor or moss-bound, it may be passed 

 crosswise. It is best adapted to moist clays which 

 do not contain stones or gravel. It is advantageous- 

 ly used to precede the sowing of grass-seeds. The 

 foot- wheel is to regulate the depth of the work. 



Draining improves the quality of the herbage, and 

 marling or liming increases, the quantity. It is re- 

 marked, that animal dung, when dropped on coarse 

 pastures, produces little or no benefit ; but when 

 calcareous matters have been laid upon the surface, 

 the finer grasses soon take possession of it. 



Manures alone are seldom applied to pasture, 

 especially with us ; but applied in the form of com- 

 post, as a top-dressing, they are serviceable. Gyp- 

 sum and spent ashes may be used with undoubted 

 benefit in most cases. 



It need hardly be added, that bushes, thistles, and 

 other perennial weeds obstruct the growth of grass, 

 and that they should be carefully extirpated. 



Our pasture-grounds are generally left to take 

 care of themselves ; but there is no doubt that some 

 expense bestowed upon their improvement, in some 

 of the modes above suggested, would be profitably 

 laid out. 



OF MEADOW. 



The crop being here annually carried off, it b3- 

 comes a matter of necessity, if the field is to be kept 

 permanently in grass, to apply manure occasionally, 

 if we would prevent a diminution of product. It is 

 affirmed that a perfectly thick bottom cannot be 

 maintained on permanent meadows in England, un- 

 less it is manured every second year Gypsum will 



