IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS-LANDS. 161 



vious grain or root crops and abundant manuring, 

 and hy harrowing and rolling, for the reception of 

 grass-seeds, and that the manures of the farm, save, 

 perhaps, lime, ashes, and plaster, be withheld for 

 the use of the current ploughed crops, rather than 

 to expend them upon the grasses ; yet much must 

 depend upon the local position of the ground, the 

 climate, and the dry or moist condition of the soil. 



The descriptions of grasses best fitted for these 

 soils are, so far as our experience has yet tested, the 

 red clover and timothy. They are strong, hardy, 

 and rich in their properties, universally known and 

 cultivated, and have, in competition with all rival ex- 

 periments, maintained their reputation and superior- 

 ity. The proportions of seed distributed on the soil 

 may vary with the views of the cultivator, as he in- 

 tends it for hay or for pasture, and may range from 

 one to two thirds of either variety ; but in no case, 

 for thorough seeding, should the combined quantity 

 be less than from half a bushel to three pecks per 

 acre. The great fault with our farmers is, that they 

 do not half seed their grass-lands, the usual allow- 

 ance being less than half the quantity recommended. 

 As to the time and manner of seeding, your commit- 

 tee unhesitatingly recommend the earliest spring, oh 

 a light loam ; or, if that be wanting, while the ground 

 is yet unsettled, on a crop of winter-grain. If this 

 be not practicable, the other best plan would be ei- 

 ther sowing with spring-grain, or seeding in the sum- 

 mer with buckwheat or turnips, as the occasion may 

 demand. 



Ploughing into the soil an occasional grass-crop 

 for its renovation, in the absence of stimulating ma- 

 nures, cannot be too highly recommended in the 

 lighter soils ; and for succeeding crops of almost 

 any description, this process is also highly advanta- 

 geous, and may, without hesitation, be always rec- 

 ommended. 



As the discussion of this subject at greater length 

 I. N 



