112 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



leguminous plants do not succeed, analogous, if not equally good, 

 results, and so assist materially in solving the problem of producing 

 cereal, root, and other crops with increasing economy.^ 



Upon nearly all soils alternate husbandry may be adopted 

 with immense advantage, and on light sandy soil, where a 

 satisfactory pastm-e is rarely formed, it is far wiser to sow a 

 temporary than a permanent mixtm-e. The periodical breaking- 

 up of the land at the end of every three or four years, and its 

 treatment as arable for one or two seasons, will render it capable 

 of again yielding valuable crops of grass. 



The heavy crops that can be obtained from artificial 

 grasses during a limited number of years are, no doubt, partly 

 attributable to the judicious selection of grasses and clovers. 

 But other influences are at work. The continual use of 

 manure has put the land into good heart, and cultural opera- 

 tions have allowed the atmosphere to set free the elements 

 which grasses readily assimilate. There are, unfortunately, 

 plenty of instances where improper seeding or starved land 

 renders a profitable permanent pasture impossible. To these 

 preventable causes I am not now alluding, but to soils 

 which, in despite of fair treatment, agglomerate and become 

 impervious to atmospheric influences, and refuse to give up 

 the necessary elements for the continuous free growth of 

 grasses. 



Apart, however, from this question of an unsuitable soil, 

 there are weighty reasons for the adoption of a system of 

 alternate husbandry. Two-thirds of many farms might 

 with advantage always be in artificial grass. A great saving 

 is effected in tillage operations, horseflesh, and labour, and 

 the land breaks up at the end of the term in excellent 

 condition, full of clover roots as a store of nourishment 

 for the succeeding grain crop. The custom of maintaining 

 agricultural holdings that are almost entirely arable, or almost 

 entirely pastoral, has failed to meet the necessities of our time. 

 What is wanted now is a combination of arable and pastoral 



