CHAPTER VIII 

 CARE OF NEW PASTURES 



Rolling 



Objects of Rolling. — The immediate objects of rolling pastures are, — 

 first, by consolidating the soil, to enable plants to get a good grip of it ; 

 second, to rebury the grasses which are partially or wholly uprooted by 

 alternate freezing and thawing in winter ; and third, to level down those 

 species that grow, like Hard fescue-grass, in tufts into a good, level mowing- 

 surface. 



Rolling Young Pastures. — In the case of young pastures it is not only 

 essential to roll the land as heavily as possible immediately after sowing, but 

 also after the first cutting in autumn and 2 or 3 times during the ensuing 

 spring, when the ground is dry. Each of these operations should be repeated 

 annually for several years. 



Manuring 



Top-Dressing Young Pastures.— During the first year no liquid 

 manure should be given, as it is then hurtful to the finer grasses ; but a top- 

 dressing of strawy manure may be afforded in autumn to at once improve the 

 soil and protect the pasture plants from winter frosts. 



Early Treatment 



Pastures without Corn. — When pasture seeds are sown without a 

 protective cereal, the young plants should be topped with a scythe directly 

 they are 3 or 4 inches high, the roller being passed over the land immediately 

 afterwards. By continuing to mow and roll frequently during the summer the 

 young grass is much strengthened, and annual weeds are kept in check, though 

 hand-weeding is necessary to destroy deeply-rooting perennial species. In 

 early autumn the pasture may be laid in for a small cutting, to be followed by 

 grazing with cake-fed cattle only. 



Towards the middle of May it will be easy to see where the seeds have 

 taken ; and every bare patch must be broken up, raked or harrowed, and re- 

 sown, before being rolled. If the failure is general, the land should at once 

 be shallowly cultivated, harrowed and rolled to a fine tilth, re-sown and finally 

 rolled. 



