v] HILL AND MOORLAND PASTURES 67 



is not very hopeful. No generalisation is possible; all that can 

 be done is to ascertain from the County Expert whether similar 

 land elsewhere has been improved in any profitable manner. 



The Highland and Agricultural Society's trials are discussed 

 by Wilson in their Transactions for 1905 (p. 271), and are finally 

 summed up by Hendrick in the volume for 1911 (p. 290). 



Moorland or peaty pasture. On peaty soils in France and the 

 United States the mineral phosphates have proved of great value, 

 and as they are considerably cheaper than basic slag or super- 

 phosphate they are worth trying on similar soils in this country. 

 Occasionally potash is greatly needed by these soils, however. 



General recommendations for pasture. The great point about 

 pasture land is to graze it properly. 



Next, remember that the animals, especially growing or milking 

 stock, are perpetually draining it of lime and of phosphates; 

 make provision, therefore, to return these. Basic slag is a suitable 

 fertiliser on heavy land or in wet districts ; superphosphate does 

 well in drier conditions, or where a quick return is desired. 



If the quality of the herbage is not good, cake feeding and 

 dressings of dung are not likely to mend matters, and may only 

 make them worse. The proper remedy is a course of artificials. 



Poor hill pastures and hot pastures on sand or thin gravel 

 present difficult cases, about which no general rule can be given. 

 The best plan is to apply to the County Adviser, and see what 

 methods have succeeded elsewhere; then try the one that suits 

 your conditions best. But, above all, try and improve the 

 pasture. 



