126 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



and Foxtail may also be introduced. When the ley is needed 

 for pasturage, an addition of Hard Fescue will render good 

 service by making the bottom grass dense, and the Broad 

 Clover may then be supplemented with Cow Grass. On 

 chalky soils either Sainfoin or Lucerne may be desirable. 

 The total quantity of seed will approximate more nearly to 

 that required for a permanent pasture, although the finer 

 varieties will be omitted. 



Four, Six, or Eight Years' Temporary Pasture.— 



There is a general impression that, for so long a term as four 

 years, a permanent prescription should be employed, but this 

 involves needless expense. Some of the finer grasses that are 

 properly included for permanent pastures would be wasted if 

 sown for only four years ; they would scarcely become established 

 until the term had nearly expired, and would certainly yield 

 no adequate return for the outlay incurred. For the longer 

 periods of six or eight years some modifications in the 

 prescription must be made, but these will depend on the 

 circumstances of each particular soil. The principal object is 

 to produce heavy crops, which can only be secured by 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 instructive 

 communication from the Earl of Leicester, K.G., describing- 

 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 



