9-2 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



keep the plants going. A shower on a dry soil, followed 

 by scorching sunshine, is quite sufficient to destroy the 

 germs, and many failures of autumn- as well as of spring- 

 sown seeds are attributable to this cause alone. Even when 

 the failure is not total, it is a serious matter if the finer 

 grasses are killed and only the coarser varieties survive. After 

 the stronger varieties have had a six months' start it is very 

 difficult to establish the finer grasses. As a consequence the 

 pasture may always be inferior in quality. 



Supposing, however, that the soil is not too dry, and is 

 otherwise in good condition, sowing in August is to be 

 commended, and the earlier the better. The plants will 

 then have a chance of becoming fairly strong before winter 

 sets in. The first week in September is, in most seasons, 

 the latest date at which a permanent pasture can be sown 

 down with any reasonable hope of a satisfactory result, except 

 in the extreme South. 



I have formed a good grass layer by sowing in autumn 

 with winter oats, and the grass came so forward as to be fit to 

 carry stock in September of the succeeding year. 



Every field sown in August or September should undergo 

 a searching examination in the following spring. If it is 

 evident that the clovers and finer grasses have failed, more 

 seed of the missing sorts should be sown before the grasses 

 become too strong. There need be no anxiety as to the effects 

 of spring frosts, for the grasses wiU afford the young clovers 

 friendly and effectual shelter. 



