SELECTION OF PASTURE PLANTS 



45 



should be sown down to replace it, so that it is a good practice to break up an 

 old ley and seed a fresh portion of land yearly. 



It would not be easy to suggest a more ameliorating and satisfactory rota- 

 tion for many lands than the following: ist year, roots; 2nd year, cereals; 

 3rd year, an annual fodder plant ; 4th year, cereals ; 5th year, temporary 

 pasture; 6th year, temporary pasture; 7th year, temporary pasture; and 8th 

 year, cereals. 



Thus, on a holding of 80 acres, the plan of rotation would be : 



Rotation on io-acre Plots. 



So that each year there are 30 acres of pasturage, ro acres of some fodder 

 plant, and 10 acres of roots, in all 50 acres of food for stock, and 30 acres of 

 cereals. If the temporary pasture be mown the first year, as is customary, 

 there are 20 acres of pasturage and 20 acres of fodder yearly, besides roots 

 and corn. 



Relative Proportions. — In mixtures intended to endure for periods 

 of I, 2 or 3 years, from 40 to 90 per cent, of clovers may be employed in 

 proportion as the land is specially adapted to their requirements. 



Selection of Species. — Grasses should predominate on poor soils, and 

 grasses and Alsike on those that have recently borne clovers. White clover 

 ought principally to be used for purely pasturage mixtures. Trefoil is not a 

 favourite food, and is much neglected by stock. 



The grasses principally sown for such short leys are Italian rye-grass, 

 Timothy, Perennial rye-grass and — less frequently — Cocksfoot and Tall 

 oat-grass. 



Specimen Mixtures. — Red clover and Italian ryegrass (for i year). Red 

 clover and Timothy (for i or 2 years). Alsike clover and Timothy (for 2 or 

 3 years on "clover-sick " land). Red clover, Alsike clover and Timothy (for 

 2 or 3 years). White clover, Alsike clover and Perennial rye-grass (for 2 or 



