CULTUEAL PEEPAEATIONS. 21 



siderable outlay in breaking up the land and getting it ready to 

 sow down again. 



The first process in converting an old ley should be a 

 vigorous harrowing in the autumn, and it must be no child's 

 play. There is not the least cause for alarm in the apparent 

 wreck of the standing plaftt. The more ruthlessly it is torn 

 the better chance will there be for the grass seeds, and the 

 more satisfactory the ultimate pasture. Follow up with a top- 

 dressing of cake-fed manure or compost early in the winter, and 

 the land will then be, although only in a limited and imperfect 

 manner, prepared to receive the grass seeds in the following 

 spring. Of course the old clover plants afibrd very considerable 

 shelter to the newly-sown grasses. 



So little remains to be said on this part of the subject that 

 perhaps it will be convenient to dispose of it at once, although the 

 question of seeding does not properly belong to this chapter. 

 As to the choice of seeds, it is mere waste to sow fine or weak- 

 growing varieties on an old clover ley. The adverse circumstances 

 of the case will afibrd them little chance of struggling into hfe, to 

 say nothing of a profitable existence. The sorts selected must 

 be the stronger and more robust of the perennial grasses, and 

 the seed should be got in early, before the clover has time to 

 shoot vigorously in spring. Accomplish the task in February if 

 possible ; bush-harrow after sowing, and as a finish put the roller 

 twice over every part of the field. 



A difierent but very frequent case of emergency is that of a 

 piece of glebe or other land that has been neglected for many 

 years until it has become a perfect mat of couch or black twitch 

 {Alopecurus agrestis). In despair of cleaning it at a reasonable 

 cost, the rector or owner decides to allow it to ' go to grass,' as 

 hundreds of acres have actually gone. Wisely it is considered 

 desirable to give Nature some assistance, but it is almost a mis- 

 nomer to dignify that assistance by the name of preparation. 

 In this instance also the routine previously advised is apphcable. 

 Vigorous harrowing in autumn, a heavy top-dressing during 



