1920.] Grass Seed Mixtures and Temporary Leys. ioi 



of grass. Farmers would be well advised, therefore, to give 

 special attention to the question of the choice of their grass 

 seed mixtures. 



The formation of a sward results from the combined influence 

 of the species sown and of those that spring up naturally. 

 A temporary ley is almost entirely dependent for valuable 

 species on the plants that are sown. On the other hand, 

 a permanent pasture will, at least in its more mature stage, 

 be almost wholly dependent on indigenous species, that is to say, 

 on plants that come in naturally. 



The commercial permanent grasses and clovers are very 

 useful in the making of temporary leys, but they are chiefly 

 valuable because, by their use, it is possible to tide over that 

 difficult period in the life of every prepared field between ihe 

 failure of the rye-grass and clovers and the establishment 

 of an indigenous sward. When selecting seed, whether for 

 temporary leys or permanent grass, local knowledge is of the 

 highest importance, as a large number of the species generally 

 recommended do not function in many localities. 



In all cases of doubt the advice of the agricultural organiser 

 (at the offices of the County Council) should be sought. 



In planning seed mixtures it is only necessary to differentiate 

 between {a) one-year leys, {b) two-year leys, and (c) leys for three 

 or more years, including permanent grass. It does not follow 

 that the mixtures necessary under the last of these heads should 

 be very complicated or very expensive. Some simplification 

 and cheapening is desirable, since it is practically essential 

 to include wild white clover in a mixture, if the best results 

 are to be obtained. 



Even at its present price | lb. per acre of wild white clover 

 is well worth sowing, since not only does it contribute greatly 

 to the formation of a close bottom and the health and 

 vigour of the grasses associated with it, but it leads to 

 marked enhancement of the soil fertility. 



Cases are known where the corn crop following a three- 

 year- old ley, in the formation of which a small quantity of 

 wild white clover was used, benefited to the extent of 16 bush, 

 of oats per acre as compared with leys in which no wild white ^ 

 clover was sown. If this experience were to become general 

 the resulting benefit on the following corn crop would be equal 

 to or even greater than that obtainable by the use of an average 

 dressing of sulphate of ammonia. 



Many farmers in suitable districts could quite easily grow 

 their own supplies of wild white clover. All that is necessary 



