4 



mixed and sowi), and covered with the rake; the rest of the seeds were mixed and sown, witl. 

 out any other means of covering but that aiforded by the roller, which was liberally employe^ 

 till the surface was perfectly level and consolidated. This was effected on the 23d of Augu,t, 



e 



The seeds of all these grasses vegetated before the first week of October, except the seed of 

 the Vecia sepimn, which did not vegetate till the autumn of the succeeding year. Before the 

 frost set in, these seedling grasses had a top-dressing, with compost of rotten dung, Hnie^ and 

 vegetable mould, laid on in a fine and dry state, after which the ground was again well rolled : 

 in the month of February this operation was repeated, when the ground was sufiiciently dry to 

 admit of it. The plants sprung earlier than those of the old pasture (a circumstance common to 

 young plants in general). In April, the weeds which had accompanied the top-dressing were 

 <^arefLdly cleared away ; and the rolling was repeated, to keep the surface compact. The plants 

 grew vigorously, till a continuance of unfavourable weather, in the end of June, checked tlielj- 

 growth. On the first week of July, the produce was cut and weighed; it amounted to one- 

 eighth more than the produce of the ground in its original state, but which had been fed of 

 with sheep in the spring; the after-math of the seedling grasses, however, weighed one-iftli 

 less than that of the natural pasture. A very slight top-dressing was applied in the montliof 

 November, and the whole was then well rolled; this operation was continued at favom'al)! 

 opportunities till April last (1815)- The grass was cut and weighed in the first weeks of June 

 and August, and again in the middle of September; the total weight of these three crops ex- 

 ceeded that of the old turf, exactly in the proportion of eight to nine. 



It is therefore evident, that the results of the two modes of experiment here adopted, per- 

 fectly agree in confirming the opinion, that a five years course of the more impoverishino- annual 

 crops, may be taken from land of the nature before described, without unfitting it for the repro- 

 duction of the superior natural grasses. 



The first, or that of ascertaining the nature of the soil before and after undergoing the im- 

 poverishing course of crops, proves, that the loss of decomposing animal and vegetable matter, 

 .is the principal injury it sustained, which it is evident may be supplied by manure, though not 

 in one season. The actual experiment of sowing the grasses on the soil thus cropped, and com- 

 paring the produce with that which it yielded in its natural state, proves clearly, that after 

 .undergomg a course of crops, it may be returned to grass, and afford a produce more abundant 

 than before*. 



, The different grasses, and other plants, which compose the produce of the richest natural 

 .pasture^ are in number twenty-five. From the spring till the end of autumn, there is not a 



month but what constitutes the particular season r,f 1,,^ ■ c- , 



. ^'^ paiiicuiar season ot luxuriance of one or more of these grasses: 



hence proceeds the constant supply of rich siirenlp«t V, u i , , ^ ^ c ,u 



. Fr 3' "I iicn succulent herbage throughout the whole of the 



season; a circumstance which but seldom or never hnTiTiPn«;„ ^--c ■ i i .1 W 



, . , , ^^^ happens m artificial pastures, where the hei- 



ijage consists or two or three plants onlu Tf tt,^ 1. 4^ 1 



^ plants only. It the best natural pastures be examined with care 





* The produce of ti.e different annual crops, grain, and bulbs, were all I. 1,1 



was very inferior, as might be expected. The exact weight of each '^' ''"^^ ""' °' "" '"' ""^ "' "' ' 



svith any view to obtain a knowledge of the comparative advantages or 7 T "^ '""'=""'^^' ^' *'- '=^P'="'"'="' "" •"" T! 

 merely for the purpose above-mentioned. How much less a iudrcious ^ ""^''^'^^ of pern,anent pasture and tillage land; b« 



this moment be decided ; but it will be allowed, that a more severe co T "^ "'"^" '"''^" '"'' ''«''='="=''"'<=''•"' ''' 



ourse of crops could hardly have been adopted. 



I 



