CHAP. VIII CARE OF NEW PASTURES 59 



Pastures with Corn. — If the corn be intended to produce green fodder 

 only, it is most important in the interests of the young pasture that the first 

 cutting be taken when the cereal is about 6 or 7 inches high ; but the necessity 

 for this has already been fully considered on page 54, under the heading of 

 " Protective Crops." 



'When corn is sown for the production of grain or straw, nothing can be 

 done for the young fodder plants, excepting hand-weeding of Docks, Thistles, 

 &c., until the cereal is off the land. Sheep must never be permitted to graze 

 the stubble in autumn, as they uproot large proportions of the finer grasses ; 

 and it is questionable if horned stock should be allowed on the land, even 

 after a wet and growing summer, though a small cutting may generally be 

 taken. 



Directly the corn is harvested, the plant must be carefully examined for 

 bare patches, which should be broken up, re-sown and rolled ; and it will, of 

 course, be necessary to re-examine the patched places in spring to see if the 

 seeds have taken properly. When the sowing appears to have failed entirely, 

 re-sowing is usually deferred until spring, owing to the difficulty of preparing 

 a stubble in time for autumn seeding. 



As a cereal takes a good deal out of the land, a liberal top-dressing of 

 manure ought to be given in autumn. 



Autumn-Sown Pastures. — The growth of the plants must be en- 

 couraged by frequent use of the scythe and roller before winter ; and in late 

 autumn a light top-dressing of strawy manure should be given, as much for 

 protection to the young plants as to enrich the soil. The grass is topped and 

 rolled in spring, preparatory to an early hay crop being taken ; after which, 

 grazing with cake-fed cattle may follow. Sheep must be kept off the land for 

 18 months or so after sowing. 



During March bare patches in autumn-sown pastures must be sought out 

 and re-sown ; and if the clover-plant appear to have failed, more seeds should 

 be bushed and rolled in. 



Water-Meadows. — Newly-sown water-meadows must be irrigated very 

 little for the first two years, — until the young plants are firmly established. 



