

27— 1851.1 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE 



427 



i** 



Iff. f the Kye-grass running to seed, and be- 



,, „, ^ j, ar d ant! withered, that neither cattle 



^jj^ep will eat it, unless forced to do so by sheer 



The better plan in both cases, I believe, 

 Tjj be to increase the quantity of Clover sown, and 

 finish that of Rye-grass. The 8 or 10 lbs. of red 

 Clover usually sown for soiling or hay, should be m- 

 ■ r^ gcd to 1411 . at least, and for pasture 8 or 10 lbs. 

 of white Clover, and 5 or 6 lbs. of red Clover or Cow- 

 crBC s might be used with advantage. The herbage pro- 

 duced from a thick plant of Clover, with only a moderate 

 mixture of Rye-grass, is not only more succulent and 

 BOorishing, but also more rapid in its growth — whether 

 l*d for growing purposes or for soiling — and will keep 

 » larger number of stock per acre than that yielded by a 

 field where the Rye-grass bears a large proportion to 

 the Clover. In the one case, that of Rye-grass, we get 

 in early spring growth, which ceases at Midsummer; 

 while in the other, that of Clover, we obtain a constant 



BOO, until vegetation is checked by autumn or 

 winter fimts. The greatly diminished cost both of red 

 ind white Clover removes all objections on the score of 

 expense. The difference of cost in seeding an acre with 

 Rre-graas and red Clover now and formerly, according 

 to the data given above, will be :^ 





Formerly. 

 ] both. Ry-erafis ... £0 

 g lb§. of red Clover, 

 atlOd. ° 



■ • ■ 



7 6 

 6 8 



Total 





. . . 



£0 13 8 



Presently. 



1 bush, of Rye- tr rasa j£0 3 

 15 lb*, of red Clover, 



at (Id. 7 



6 



To'al 



• • f 



...£0 11 



But as this does not give a fair comparison, as regard® 

 the two systems, at present prices, we may contrast 

 them in another way : 



Freseat sys'em, 

 1 tro*h. of R.te-grass, 



at •*. M. Jt0 



8 lbi. of red Clover, 



at Qd. 



a • ■ 



• • t 



7 

 4 



Total 



...£0 11 



Proposed £5 stem. 

 1 bush, of Etre-rrait ^0 3 6 



15 lbs. of red Clover, 



at 6d 7 6 



Total 



■ • • 



...40 11 



Which gives exactly the same expense in both cases. 

 This comparison holds good whether we sow red or 

 white Clover, but of course when Cow-grass or Alsike 

 18 sown, the expense will be correspondingly increased. 

 In confirmation of what has been stated, I may mention 

 that, in the spring of 1348, I sowed, by mistake, 20 lbs. 

 of Alsike Clover per acre, instead of 10 lbs., and the 

 result was the thickest and most luxuriant pasturage I 

 ever had on my farm, so much so that I do not exagge- 

 rate when I say that the portion of ground so treated 

 kept twice the number of stock than any other part of 

 the field. In this case, however, something must be 

 allowed for the circumstance that the other part of the 

 field was sown with white Clover and Cow-grass, at the 

 rate of 5 lbs. of the former to 4 lbs of the latter, and 

 was also not so good land, but notwithstanding that the 

 data do not bring out a clear verdict in favour of the 

 thick sowing of Clover, inasmuch as the trial was not 

 betwixt Clover of the same variety, yet I am satisfied 

 that the result would have been the same, had the com 

 parison been made between 20 lbs. and 10 lbs. of the 

 same variety of Clover. I have been fortified in this 

 opinion by conversing with and seeing the pracMce of a 

 fanner well known in East Lothian, who informed me 

 that he had continued to increase the quantity of Clover 

 sown on his farm, until, by repeated experiment, he 

 found that the best results were obtained by sowing from 

 16 to 20 lbs. per Scotch acre. It is for these reasons 

 that I have come to the conclusion that my own prac- 

 tice has hitherto been faulty, and in future I shall cer- 

 tainly sow at least 14 lbs. of Clover to the acre when 

 for pasture or hay. 



The mode of sowing Grass. seeds in the district re- 

 ferred to, is to scatter them broadcast, either by the 

 hand or by a machine, the former being by far the most 

 nmon way, upon a rolled or finely harrowed surface, 

 which the previous harrowing of the Barley generally 

 affords. For example, after sheep tatk, the land being 

 ploughed in ridges or large feirings, is sown with Barley 

 or spring Wheat, and after a double stroke of the har- 

 rows has been given lengthways, and a single stroke 

 across, it is rolled, and the Rye-grass and Clover, pre- 

 viously mixed together, are sown on the smooth surface, 

 and thereafter covered by a double or single stroke of a 

 break of light harrows. Light harrows are not, how- 

 ever, always used for this purpose — the operation often 

 being performed by the ordinary heavy harrows used 

 for covering seed-corn — but this I consider to be a very 

 STfcftt mistake, as much of the Clover, as well as Rye- 

 grass, is deposited too deeply for germinating vigorously, 

 *&£ the probability is that a considerable proportion 

 never vegetates at all. A pamphlet published some 

 years ago by Messrs. Drummond and Sons, of Stirling, 

 ?n the Sowing of Grass Seeds, gives an experiment^ 

 nlustrated by a diagram, by which it is satisfactorily 

 Proved that small seeds, such as red and white Clover, 

 *nd several of the natural Grasses, do not vegetate at a 

 aepth greater than 1 inch and a half below the surface, 

 °r if they do, the stem is too feeble ever to produce a 

 nealthy plant. If this be true, and few we think will 

 ^oubt it, it is no exaggeration to say that wherever Grass 

 **« [are covered by the common harrows, one-half of 

 «« Uover and a large proportion of the Rye-grass are 



wally buried, in consequence of being deposited below 

 in « germiuatin.ir point. 



As I have never used either of the latter, I am unable 

 to say how far the statements in regard to them are 

 correct, but I may mention that the Grass harrows I 

 use are very light, weighing only 21 lbs. each, and are 

 made with wooden balls and sheaths, iron teeth, each of 

 which is fastened into its socket by means'of a screw 

 and nut. Six of these harrows form a break, covering 

 15 feet, and are drawn by two horses attached to a Ion" 

 swingle-tree. These harrows are coupled together by 

 iron sliders, so constructed as to admit of a considerable 

 vertical and longitudinal motion; thus, in some measure, 

 making each harrow independent of its neighbour. They 

 work remarkably well, striking every height and hollow 

 of the ground equally, and are admirably adapted either 

 for covering Grass seeds or breaking the crust from 

 hide- bound winter Wheat. 



While on the subject of harrowing Grass seeds, I may 

 state that what applies as a rule in the case of small 

 seeds is applicable to a certain extent in the case of all 

 the Cereal ia. The seeds of Wheat, Oats, and Barley 

 vegetate most freely and vigorously when near the sur- 

 face, atmospheric air being as essential to vegetation as 

 heat and moisture. But, of course, in practice it is 

 found necessary to deviate from the theoretical rule, in 

 order to obviate the destructive effects of other causes, 

 such as the ravages of birds, and the changes produced 

 on the immediate surface of the soil by the alternate 

 frosts and thaws of winter. I may state here, however, 

 that lj inch below the surface is sufficiently deep to 

 enable the young roots of all cereal grains to withstand 

 the atmospheric changes referred to ; and, in proof of 

 tin's statement, I may mention that for two years I used 

 Grass harrows for covering autumn and winter-sown 

 Wheat, whether drilled or sown broadcast, and the 

 result was in every way satisfact ry, whether as regards 

 the thickness of braird, its permanence, tillering in 

 spring, or yield at harvest. So far as my experience 

 goes on this head, it is entirely opposed to the practice 

 of ploughing in the seeds of Wheat, Oats, or Barley. 

 With Beans it is quite different, as the vegetative power 

 of one seed is equal to the raising of a weight of 4 lbs. 



I have mentioned these facts— although a little apart 

 from the subject of the present discussion— in confirma- 

 tion of the experiment given in the Messrs. Drum- 

 mond's pamphlet, and for the j" A >ose of proving that 

 if the seeds of corn-bearing plants suffer injury from 

 being too deeply deposited in the ground, much more 

 will the small seeds of Clover aad Rye-grass, and I may 

 add of Turnips also. In sowing Rye-grass and Clover 

 amongst autumn or winter-sown Wheat we are never 

 exposed to the risk of burying the seeds, and hence we 

 find that when early enough sown, both Clover and 

 Rye-grass take root and vegetate freely, although 

 neither harrowed nor rolled. Many instances are fresh 

 in my recollection of Clover and Rye-grass being sown 

 amongst young Wheat as early as February, without 

 any harrowing or rolling, and although followed by 

 every variety of ungenial weather, the plant and sub- 

 sequent produce were all that could be desired. This 

 proves two points, first, that Grass seeds vegetate most 

 freely when deposited on or near the surface of the 

 soil ; and secondly, they thrive best when the land is 

 firm and well consolidated. While, however, it is true 

 that Rye-grass and Clover sown as early as February 

 will do well without any harrowing or rolling, it is alto- 

 gether different when we approach farther into the 

 spring months. Then it is absolutely necessary either 

 to harrow or roll after sowing, otherwise the dryness of 

 the air and the heat of the sun will destroy the vitality 

 of seed quite as effectually as if they were deposited 

 3 or 4 inches below the surface. My practice is to sow 

 amongst Wheat as early in spring as the land will 

 admit of the harrow and roller being used without 

 working raw — the double object thereby being accom- 



found that both cattle and sheep preferred nibbling the 

 latter, however short, to eating the former, however 

 luxuriant. Before leaving this subject. 1 would lift up 

 my testimony against two Grasses which are generally 

 recommended for permanent pasture, these are Crested 

 Dogstail and II ulcus lanatus. The latter is a soft, 

 worthies^ innutritious Grass ; and the former is hard 

 and wiry, and should never be sown except for bowling- 

 greens or policy-grounds kept constantly under the 

 scythe. It is generally recommended for lawns, but 

 this I consider a great mistake when the Grass is not 

 to be cut, but pastured by sheep or cattle. There is a 

 very handsome lawn in my neighbourhood, very much 

 disfigured by the prevalence of this Grass, which the 

 proprietor, I have no doubt, would give a good round 

 sum to get extirpated. This lawn is regularly pastured 

 by sheep, and during spring and the earlier part of 

 summer it is beautifully green, but towards autumn and 

 during the whole winter it is quite brown with the tall 

 ripened stalks of the Crested Dogstail, which have been 

 left untouched by the sheep. 



With respect to those manures best adapted for 

 increasing Grass crops, I have found it a very good, 

 but not an unfailing plan, to apply farm-yard manure to 

 the previous corn crop. Ten to V2 cart-loads laid on 

 this way, generally give bett.r Clover than kalfacrop 

 of Turnips consumed on the land by sheep. It is 

 seldom, however, according to the present system of 

 green crop husbandry, by winch the great bulk of our 

 manure is applied to the raising of roots, that we can 

 command a sufficient quantity of farm-yard dung to 

 apply to those crops amongst which Grass seeds are 

 sown, and consequently recourse must be liad to some 

 of the special manures for the purpose of increasing the 



produce of our Grass fields. 



Ten years ago, I first commenced using these manures 

 as top-dressings for Grass, and during the intervening 

 period I have tried guano, saltpetre, nitrate of soda, 

 sulphate of soda, common salt, and sulphate of ammonia, 

 with various success, but latterly I have confined myself 

 entirely to guano, nitrate of soda, and sulphate of 

 ammonia, either separately or mixed together. Last 

 year a mixture was employed with great success, con- 

 sisting of 1 cwt. of guano, £ cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 

 and ^ cwt. of nitrate of soda, to the statute acre, the 

 cost being exactly 25s. The two latter substances, mixed 

 half and half, have been a good deal used in Fife within, 

 the last two or three years as fertilisers for Grass land, 

 and I believe with very great benefit in most cases. 

 There is one circumstance, however, I have noticed in 

 connection with the use of these fertilisers, viz., that if 

 applied to a field in which the Rye-grass predominated 

 over the Clover, the effect produced was a remarkable 

 growth of the former and nearly the entire disappear- 

 ance of the latter ; and on the other hand when the 

 Clover predominated, the Rye-grass disappeared. If 

 this be a general rule it proves the propriety of sowing 

 a large proportion of Clover in those fields we intend 

 for hay or for soiling, as it is only when there is plenty 

 of Clover that we can expect a succession of cuttings 

 throughout the summer and autumn. 



The best time to apply guano and ammoniacal salts 

 and the nitrates to Grass is just when spring vegetation 

 has fairly commenced. April I find to be the best 

 month for applying these substances, and a rainy day is 

 always selected for the purpose, as much depends on 

 this circumstance for giving the Grass a quick start. 

 My experience of liquid manure as a fertiliser is so very 

 limited and imperfect, that I do not consider myself 

 qualified to pronounce any opinion as to its utility. All 

 the liquid manure made on my farm is nearly absorbed 

 by the straw- yard, and what escapes is caught upon a 

 large compost heap placed near the outlet of the yards, 

 but at a much lower level, and what escapes from this 

 plished of breaking up the winter crust, and covering j mixen, which is only a very small quantity, is allowed 



the Grass seeds at the same time. I will now say a few 

 words on the laying down of Grass to permanent pas- 

 ture. If for grazing purposes solely, the following 

 kinds and quantities, per statute acre, would, I think, 

 form a good mixture for dry land of medium quality : 



Perennial Rye-grass 



Hani Fe.-cue ... 

 Sheep's Fescue... 

 Meadow Foxtail 

 White Clover 

 Alsike 

 Cow-Gras» 



• • t 



• • • 



■ • ■ 



• • • 



• •• 



• « • 



• • • 



- • - 



* * • 



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- « • 



• • 9 



• • • 



« • • 



• • • 



t t • 



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< • ■ 



■ ■ • 



• • • 



9 11 



• •• 



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t * a 



••• 



■ • • 



1 btiftheh 

 4 lbs. 



4 



4 



5 

 3 



B 



ji 

 11 



• » 

 it 



*i 



even 



light 



v~* the pamphlet already referred to, 



Z^^s are considered objectionable, on account** of 

 ™v habdity to bury the seeds of Clover ; and the 



idpI? "T^ ™ arrow ancl the bush harrow are recom- 

 naeda «the\nly efficient* mp! emeu ts for Giass seeds. 



Both Lawson and Drummond recommend Timothy and 

 Cocksfoot for permanent pasture, but while I would not 

 for an instant oppose my limited practice to the very 

 extensive experience of these gentlemen,! must say that 

 I cannot recommend either of the above-named Grasses 

 for dry trap soils. They are both coarse Grasses, and 

 when grown on such soils, in a dry climate, produce a 

 hard and woody herbage not relished by sheep or cattle, 

 especially the former. A residence for some time in 

 Ireland has led me to the conclusion, that both Cocks- 

 foot and Timothy may be sown with advantage in deep 

 land, situated in a moist climate ; and the reason simply 

 is, that these plants produce a more succulent herbage 

 under such circumstances, than when both soil and 

 climate are dry, as is the case in most parts of the 

 eastern sea-board of Scotland and England. The Fescues 

 are small-stemmed Grasses, and never get coar-e, and I 

 elieve they make up in closeness of sole what they want 

 n luxuriance of growth. I was long under the impres- 

 sion that Cocksfoot, from its rapidity of growth, even in 

 iry weather, and on dry land, would prove an excellent 

 Grass for my thin trap soil ; but although it grew well, 

 \ and was much earlier than the common Rye-grass, I 



to run over a field immediately below, so that in this 

 way I do not think there can be any very notable quan- 

 tity wasted. I have tried guano partly dissolved and 

 partly diffused through a large quantity of water as a 

 top-dressing for Clover aftermath, but the weather being 

 very droughty at the time, the result was not by any 

 means satisfactory, and the experiment was not repeated- 

 I am strongly inclined to think that dilute solutions 

 of nitrate of soda ami sulphate of ammonia might be 

 advantageously applied to Clover ; and if spared, I shall 

 certainly give the plan a trial next summer. A cwt. of 

 these salts in equal proportions dissolved in 400 gallons 

 of water would suffice for an acre. Assuming the gallon 

 of water to weigh 10 lbs., this would give a solution con- 

 taining about 3 per cent, of salts ; which, so far as I am 

 aware, would not be too strong for Grass. Of course, 

 in wet weather, it is quite unnecessary to make solutions 

 of nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia, as they are 

 both easily dissolved by rain, or even when scattered 

 over a moist surface ; it is only, therefore, to dry weather 

 that the suggestion refers. Before concluding these 

 desultory remarks, I would beg leave to say that in 

 obstinate cases of Clover failure, the only remedy is a 

 discontinuance of its cultivation for 10 or 12 years* 

 Happily, we have a substitute in Italian Rye-grass, 

 which possesses all the hardiness of common Rye-grass, 

 with the succulency and rapidity of growth which charac- 

 terises the broad-leaved Clover. I have also proved 

 repeatedly, that land which refuses to grow red Clover, 

 will grow Cow Grass. Finally, I may mention that I 

 have seen fields which refused to grow red Clover, the 

 one rotation, produce an excellent crop the next — Nature 

 thus pointing out the remedy to consist in a longer rota- 

 tion of crops, thereby placing the Clover crops farther 

 from each other. 



