116 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



an almost exclusive use of the stronger-growing grasses and 

 clovers. 



Reverting to the question ' Is there no Alternative ? ' 

 referred to at the opening of this chapter, it is interesting to 

 remember that subsequent to the publication of a former 

 edition of this work there appeared in ' The Times ' an instruc- 

 tive communication from the late Earl of Leicester, K.G., des- 

 cribing the results of trials made at Holkham, Norfolk, with 

 the object of securing, on poor soils, pasture that should last 

 for a period of not less than six years. The mixture of seeds 

 that was found to give the best results consisted of Cocksfoot, 

 Perennial Rye Grass, Italian Rye Grass, Meadow Fescue, 

 Hard Fescue, Tall Fescue, Timothy, Tall Oat Grass, Yellow 

 Oat Grass, Alsike Clover, White Clover, and Yarrow. It is 

 very desirable that the pasture should not be too closely 

 grazed by sheep during the summer months of the first two 

 or three years, and it is better, when practicable, to mow the 

 crop the first year after laying down. The rye grasses ensure 

 a sufficiency of herbage during the time other varieties are 

 attaining full development. The two oat grasses are included 

 because they are native to the Holkham district. With 

 suitable modifications in the constituents, and a considerable 

 addition to the quantity of seed per acre, as may be needed by 

 local conditions of soil and chmate, this mixture, which has 

 given such good results on poor soils in Norfolk, might prove 

 useful in other districts. 



Temporary pastures are, as a rule, sown with spring corn, 

 and they require substantially the same treatment as per- 

 manent pastures, although, as the grasses employed for the 

 former purpose are strong growers, there is not quite the same 

 necessity for extreme caution in preparing the land ; but even 

 here laxity and carelessness entail a sufficiently heavy penalty. 



A temporary pasture may, in a favourable summer, 

 affiard a valuable bite for horned stock soon after the corn is 



