106 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



pounds of grass seeds per acre, because he has found by 

 experience that the result is an increase of a ton of hay 

 per acre in the cut of the following year. The seed may be 

 sown either before the grass starts growth in February, or 

 late in August or the beginniag of September. On damp land 

 preparation should be made by an application of salt to the 

 most weedy parts, and a severe dragging over the entire surface. 

 A weU-mixed compost of lime, the contents of ditches, and 

 any other available rich material, should be distributed over 

 the whole meadow, and the seeds can be sown on any day 

 when the ground is dry enough to permit the roUer to be used. 

 To ensure germination it is important that the bush or chain 

 harrow should precede the roller. The meadow should then 

 be laid in for hay, and after the crop is cut cattle may be 

 allowed to depasture the land, but sheep must not be admitted 

 until the following year. Upland pastures may be treated in a 

 similar manner. 



For destroying moss there is no better dressing than two 

 cart-loads of lime mixed with eight cart-loads of light loam 

 per acre. The heap should be turned several times until the 

 lime is thoroughly slaked and well incorporated with the loam. 

 After dragging the turf with heavy iron harrows, the com- 

 post should be evenly spread. There will soon be a marked 

 improvement, and a full return for the outlay. 



The effect of dragging a pasture is not everywhere 

 appreciated at its full value. The mechanical action breaks 

 up the congested surface, allows the atmosphere to penetrate 

 to the roots, and thus promotes a free and healthy growth of 

 the plants. It also enables the grasses to absorb and derive 

 benefit from any fertilising agent or compost which may be 

 applied to the surface, instead of allowing part of the dressing 

 to be washed away by the first heavy rain. 



