128 PRACTICAL NOTES ON GRASSES AND GRASS GROWING. 
The buyer should use great precaution in examining his 
simple, because we regret to say some sellers are accustomed 
to manipulate the second-class seeds to give them an artificial 
weight, and we would recommend the purchaser always to give 
preference to the very best sample, which in every way will be 
found cheapest in the long run. 
When this grass is properly used it will stand more jamming 
and rough treatment than almost any other species of grass. 
It will be remembered that couch or speargrass cannot 
endure compressed land, therefore it should be obvious that 
_if the grower notices couch in possession of the whole or part 
of his permanent pasture, perennial ryegrass should be sown, 
and the pasture folded with sheep, which should successfully 
clear the ground of the obnoxious weed. 
The old adage, “if you don’t at first succeed, try, try, try 
again,” is applicable in this instance ; choose, if possible, wet 
weather in the spring of the year for the second attempt, and, 
to make success doubly sure, it is advisable to spread 20 to 40 
loads of mould—better still, a compost of mould and lime, or 
mould and gas-lime—upon the land before sowing. 
When pastures are infested with moss, the remedy we have 
above described is also applicable. Perhaps it is needless for 
us to add that on heavy land the mould to select should be of 
the lightest kind available, and w7ce-versé ; on peaty soil or sour 
pastures use chalk or lime. 
Perennial ryegrass is seldom grown by itself in England, and 
when sown with red clover it becomes ready to cut before the 
latter. Generally it is used with trefoil mixtures, although in 
alternate husbandry the ripening of its seeds may, in a measure, 
rob the following grain crop. When half grown, between the 
flowering and ripening of the seed, this grass has a greater 
nutritious value than at any other stage. In the spring it 
grows stronger than it does in the autumn, and under favour: 
able circumstances, gives a fair- aftermath, and it loves 
