TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 125 



Two Years' Ley. — The extended duration of the ley justi- 

 fies the addition of Timothy and an increase of Cocksfoot, but it 

 is very easy to overdo the latter. Italian will almost certainly 

 be preferable to Annual Eye Grass, but the proportion must be 

 diminished, and a larger quantity of Perennial Eye Grass be sub- 

 stituted. Alsike and White Clover should be more freely sown, 

 and the weight of Broad be slightly reduced. A heavier total 

 seeding will be necessary to make a satisfactory two years' ley 

 than is required for a single season, and more regard must be 

 paid to peculiarities of soil and to the object in view. 



Three or Four Years' Ley. — These two periods may fairly 

 be considered together, for the major part of a prescription, 

 adapted for three years, will, as a rule, hold good for another 

 season. There is a general impression that, for so long a term as 

 four years, a permanent mixture should be used, but this is a 

 mistake. Some of the finer grasses that are properly included 

 for permanent pastures would be wasted if sown for only three 

 or four years ; they would scarcely become established until the 

 term had expired, and would certainly yield no adequate return 

 for the outlay incurred. Besides retaining Timothy, Alsike, 

 White Clover, and Perennial Eye Grass, it is still necessary to 

 include some Italian Eye Grass, Broad Clover, and Trefoil for 

 the sake of the first year's produce, but on suitable soils the 

 place of the Eye Grass may largely be taken by Avena elatior. 

 The value of the hay will be increased, and tlie pasture will be 

 more palatable to stock, by partially replacing Cocksfoot with 

 Meadow Fescue ; and Foxtail must also be introduced. When 

 the ley is needed for pasturage, an addition of Hard Fescue will 

 render good service by making the bottom grass dense, and the 

 Broad Clover may then be supplemented with Cow Grass. On 

 chalky soils either Sainfoin or Lucerne may be desirable. The 

 total quantity of seed will approximate more nearly to that 

 required for a permanent pasture, although the finer varieties will 

 be omitted. 



