THE MANAGEMENT OF OLD GRASS LAND. 101 



every case where tlie plant stands thin on the ground I am 

 persuaded that it will pay to bush in a few pounds of the finer 

 grasses and clovers per acre. I am acquainted with a farmer 

 who sows twenty pounds of grass seeds per acre every autumn 

 on an old pasture, because he has found by experience that when 

 he omits doing so there is a difference of a ton of hay per acre in 

 the cut of the following year. The seed may either be sown 

 before the grass starts growth in February, or immediately the 

 hay has been cut in June. February is, however, a very good 

 time. On damp land preparation should be made by an applica- 

 tion of salt to the most weedy parts, and a severe dragging over 

 the entire surfoce. A Avell-mixed compost of lime, the contents 

 of ditches, and any other available rich material, should be 

 distributed over the whole meadow, and the seeds can be sown 

 on any day wlien the ground is dry enough to permit the roller 

 to be used. The meadow should then l^e laid in for hay. And 

 after the crop is cut cattle may be allowed to depasture the 

 land, but sheep must not be admitted until the following year. 

 Upland pastures may be treated in a similar fashion. 



For destroying moss there is no better dressing than two 

 cart-loads of lime mixed witli eight cart-loads of light loam per 

 acre : pure lime is too powerful to be applied alone. The heap 

 should be turned several times until the lime is thoroughly slaked 

 and well incorporated with the loam. After dragging the turf 

 with heavy iron harrows, ten cart-loads of tlie compost should be 

 spread over each acre. There will soon be a marked improve- 

 ment, and a full return for the outlay. 



The effect of dragging a pasture is not everywhere appre- 

 ciated at its full value. The mechanical action breaks up the 

 congested surface, allows the atmosjjhere to penetrate to the 

 roots, and thus promotes a free and healthy growth of tlie plants. 

 It also enables the grasses to absorb and derive benefit from any 

 fertilising agent or compost which may be applied to the surface, 

 instead of allowing the dressing to be in great part washed awav 

 by the first heavy i-ain. 



