830 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK ix. 



and in some few cases objectionable ; but there are many instances 

 where a proportion of it is not only legitimate but necessary. 



" For two years' ley it is desirable to add timothy and to slightly 

 increase the proportion of cocksfoot. Italian will prove preferable 

 to annual rye grass, but the proportion must be diminished, and a 

 larger quantity of perennial rye-grass should be substituted. Alsike 

 and white clover should be more freely sown, and the weight of broad 

 clover slightly reduced. A heavier total seeding is necessary to make 

 a satisfactory two years' ley than is required for a single season, and 

 more regard should be paid to peculiarities of soil and to the special 

 object in view. 



" For three or four years' ley it is necessary, besides retaining timothy, 

 alsike, white clover, and perennial rye grass, to still include some 

 Italian rye grass, broad clover, and trefoil for the sake of the first year's 

 produce, but on suitable soils the place of the r^ye grass may largely be 

 taken by tall oat grass. The value of the hay is increased, and the 

 pasture made 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 former being usually sown. The total 

 quantity of seed will approximate more nearly to that required for a 

 permanent pasture, although the finer varieties will be omitted. 



" A heavy dressing of cake-fed farm-yard manure applied towards the 

 close of the year will pay well, as nothing stimulates artificial grasses 

 so much. The fresher the manure when placed on the ground, and 

 the less it has been allowed to ferment, the better the grass will thrive. 

 The pasture needs bush-harrowing and rolling down early in spring 

 before being laid in for hay. The first year's crop will mainly consist 

 of rye grasses and clovers, but the bottom of a three or four years' ley 

 may be expected to improve for at least two years, and the foxtail, 

 timothy, cocksfoot, tall oat grass, and other plants, will increase in 

 bulk in the third and fourth seasons." 



CHAPTER VI. 

 ON HAY-MAKING. 



IT is impossible to specify any precise period for cutting grass for 

 hay, as so much depends upon its growth and maturity, or power 

 of affording the best and most nourishing food, and the state of the 

 weather. It is extremely detrimental to grass-crops to cut them too 

 earlv. It will, however, receive equal injury, if it is allowed to stand 



