CULTURAL PREPARATIONS 19 



disadvantages. Causes entirely beyond human control may 

 sometimes render it needful to re-sow, even after the most 

 earnest effort ; but no one should lay himself open to the 

 possibility of self-reproach for having contributed to partial 

 failure by neglect. More of the failures in attempting to 

 create pastures could, if all the facts were known, be traced 

 directly to the unfavourable state of the soil, and to its pre- 

 vious cultivation, than is generally believed, and it is true 

 wisdom, as well as sound economy, to wait a year, or even two 

 years, rather than risk sowing upon soil which is foul or out 

 of condition. 



The bare fallow, however, will be the exception ; as a rule 

 it cannot be afforded. In the interests of the coming pasture, 

 a root or potato crop is the next best preparation, and unless 

 the land is capable of growing a first-class crop of roots, it 

 will be incompetent to produce even a fair pasture. A root 

 crop offers the advantage that while few are disposed to 

 manure a bare fallow heavily, a liberal dressing of farmyard 

 dung will not be denied to the mangels or swedes. To 

 young grasses it is a great gain when, instead of manuring at 

 or soon after sowing, the land can be made rich and put into 

 good heart in the preceding year. The tender and delicate 

 roots of the rising grass plant may be seriously impaired by 

 contact with crude raw manure ; whereas they will readily 

 assimilate a rich dressing which has had time to become 

 mellow, or to be absorbed into the staple. 



Supposing land to be prepared by feeding off a crop of 

 turnips with sheep, it may happen that the turnips have to 

 be supplemented with meadow hay. If so, it is important 

 that the hay should be only such as has been cut very early, 

 otherwise the ripe seeds of the least useful grasses will, as 

 they pass the sheep undigested, in due time spring up and 

 make the pasture foul. Such grasses as Holcus lanatus, 

 JBromus mollis, and other worthless varieties, often find then- 

 way into a pasture in this manner. 



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