CULTURAL PREPARATIONS 23 



degree, be prepared to receive the grass seeds in the following 

 spring. Of course the old clover plants afford 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 afford them little 

 chance of struggling into life, 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. 



Another plan I have personally adopted, with success, has 

 been to feed the second crop of a clover ley in August with 

 sheep eating cake, sowing the grass seeds among the clover in 

 front of the sheep, and leaving them to trample in the seeds 

 and manure the land as they eat off the crop. It is important 

 not to sow in the early morning, or at any time when the 

 standing plant is wet, or the seeds will adhere to the clover 

 and be eaten by the sheep, instead of falling to the ground to 

 be trodden in. 



Other instances of a similar character might be cited, but 

 as they only need some modification of the method already 

 explained, it may be enough to say that I have known tolerably 

 successful pastures to be formed on an old Sainfoin ley, a 

 worn-out Lucerne plant, a three or four years' ley, and even on 

 clean Barley and Oat stubbles, without ploughing or using 

 any other implement than the harrow, the seed-barrow, and 

 the roller. 



A different but very frequent case of emergency is that 

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



