223 



i 



I 



But these improvements, effected on poor siliceous sandy pastures, by the above treatment, 

 ,,,ill be found only temporary ; and that, as soon as the means are suspended, the pasture m ill 

 return again to its former inferior state ; this kind of soil being of a nature that soon exhausts 

 niainire applied to it, vi^hether on the surface as a top-dressing, or when ploughed In the 

 „a. It will be found absolutely necessary to change first the nature of the soil, by the appli- 

 f clay or marl; and the superior grasses will then keep possession of the soil, even 



111 1 -Tw^l A^-4-v ^^ 



the 



lai 



cation 



del 







c inclifFerent management. There will be much less occasion for manure, and the quan- 

 tity applied will have double the efFect. The land, by this means, is improved permanently." ■ 

 It is much to be lamented, that pastures of this nature are often broken up, undero-o a course 

 of crops, and are again returned to grass, without any change being made in the nature of the 

 soil. If marl be often out of reach, clay seldom is, as this earth is generally found under saud, 

 or in its neighbourhood. Before clay, marl, or any Ingredient that effects a permanent chano-c 

 ill the nature of a soil, be applied, the nature of the soil, and the ingredient^ should first be 

 ascertained by chemical analysis. And the exact quantity of the ingredient, necessary to effect 

 tlie desired change in the nature of the soil, will, by this, be accurately determined. Without 

 this, the operation will be performed in the dark, and consequently with less certain success. 

 If the reader will look back to the observations on soils, stated in the Introduction, he will find 

 some hints on this important point. 



Of the different grasses natural to dry siliceous sandy soils, that have been submitted to ex- 

 periment, and mentioned in the foregoing series, the sheep's fescue, fFestuca ovina); flexuose 

 Iiair-grass, (Airajleocuosa); common bent-grass, (Agrostis vulgaris); flat-stalked mead ow-o*rass, 

 (Poa co7npressaJ; and common bird's-foot trefoil, { Lotus comiculat us) ^ prove to be the best. 

 For dry calcareous soils, on chalky subsoils, the meadow oat-grass, fAvena pratensis); meadow 



^ 



barley-grass, (Hordeum pratense) ; and crested brome-grass, (^JBromus cristatus); will be found 

 the most valuable, if no alteration be made in the nature of the soil. 



It has already been observed, that the value of these grasses, even when cultivated in the 

 manner, are only adapted for the maintenance of sheep ; and to introduce the superior pas- 

 ture grasses on such soils, the previous application of clay or mail is absolutely necessary. 

 When this important point has been effected, to obtain the most valuable sward the soil is capa- 

 Ue of producing, the seeds of the following grasses should be sown, and experience will prove, 

 that under such circumstances, they are the best for this purpose. 



best 



CockVfoot grass, (Dactylis glomerata), 

 Cressed dog's-tail grass, (Cynosurus cristatus). 

 Yellow oat-grass, (Aveiiajtat'escens), 

 Rye-grass, Pacey's, (Lolium perenne), 

 Flat-stalked meadow-grass, (Foa compressa). 

 Hard fescue, (Festuca duriuscula ) , 

 Lesser birdVfoot trefoil, (Lotus comicidatus), 

 "White clover, (Trifolium repensj, . 



3 pecks. 



1 ditto. 



2 ditto. 

 1 ditto. 



1 ditto. 



2 ditto. 

 1 lb. 



3 ditto. 



From a variety of experiments that I have made on a small scale, with a view to ascertam 

 ^^^ quantity of seed that would produce the best sward in the shortest space of time; I feel 

 ^oiivinced, that any quantity less than five bushels per acre of the above mixture, should not be 



circumstances 



