88 Liberal Seeding most Essential. 



remonstrated with me as regards the quantity of seed 

 I put down. This I was induced to do, partly from my 

 own observation, and partly from the remarks of the 

 late Mr. Brotherston — an excellent botanist, who had 

 paid much attention to the whole subject of grasses 

 and their cultivation — who was much in favour of 

 liberal seeding, and the more T have considered the 

 subject the more certain do I feel that Arthur Young 

 is right as regards the opinion he held as to liberal 

 seeding being essential to success. For what are the 

 main points to be kept in view ' Are they not to cover 

 the ground as quickly as possible with as much grass 

 as it will hold;* and an equally important, or even 

 more important, point, to fill the land as soon as possible 

 with a large quantity of roots, to the end that its 

 physical condition may be maintained, and even im- 

 proved ? And when we come to consider the numerous 

 causes of loss that are liable to occur from defective 

 seasons, the ravages of birds and field mice and insects, 

 and defective conditions of soil, is it not evident that if 

 we wish to have a full take of grass we must put down 

 plenty of seed ? It is true that by liberal feeding with 

 cake on the land, or by manuring in some other way, a 

 thin supply of plants on the land will gradually tiller out 

 and cover the ground; but while this process is going on 

 what evils and losses are occurring ! The numerous 

 parts of the soil which are unfilled with roots run to- 

 gether, or solidify gradually from the action of the 

 elements and the tread of the stock, weeds and bad 



* A pasture not fully occupied with plants renders the whole land 

 more liable to suffer from drought, and this is, of course, more 

 especially the case when drying winds sweep over it. In the case of 

 a young pasture the conserving of moisture is obviously a point of the 

 first importance, as plants more often suffer from lack of moisture at 

 a critical period of their growth than from any other cause. The 

 land may be ever so rich, but without a good supply of moisture the 

 pasture cannot take advantage of the plant food present. Every bare 

 spot in a pasture, then, though only an inch in width, has a tendency 

 to starve the plants in its immediate neighbourhood in the event of 

 the season being a dry one. 



