286 CARE OF CRASS LANDS. 



lowed, but even lioro wo are satisiiod tliat it would pay the 

 fanner much better, and he would oljtain a better sod and nearly 

 as quickly ii' he should take; the ' wildness' out of the laud with 

 two or three gruiu crops before seediug." 



CHAPTER XI. 

 CARK OF (iRASS LANDS. 



Pormaiient Pasture vs. Alternate Hnsbaiiclry.— Fifty- 

 live correspondents in a recent rei»()rt in Kngland agree that "It 

 is certaiidy unadvisable to break ii]) any tolerably ^^ood ])astures 

 for the purpose of converting them into arable land." 



With his e.xpei'ience and observation irt mild and moist Europe, 

 HousiuL ault believed that there is no system of rotation, however 

 well conceived and carried out, which will stand comparison in 

 j)i)int of productiveness with a natural meadow j)ro])erly situated 

 and properly attended to. 



In 1881, nearly half tlm land occupied for agricultural purp'oses 

 in Great Britain was in ])C!rnKinent j)asture and meadow, and the 

 proportion is on the iji_ rease. In Ireland the ijrojmrtion is still 

 greater in favor of permanent grass himl. The proi)ortion is 

 greatest where the air contains mcjst moisture. 



The late George (ieddes, in the dotiuinj dentleman for 188^, 

 reports a discussion of the Onondaga Farmers' (Ilul). Men who 

 had moist lands, with water under them, believed in permanent 

 l)asture. Mcti who cultivated dry soils, well adapted to a rotation 

 of croi)s, easily plowed, ajid especially subject to severe droughts, 

 were very decided in the opinion that i)ermanent pastures are of 

 little value as comjtared Avith grain crojjs, and hay and pasture 

 in rotation. Kocky land and steep hillsides are best kept in 

 grass. The amount of rain-fall has much importanoxi in deciding 



