II28 



Land Broken up during the War. [feb., 



In the absence of a silo, a mixed crop of oats and vetches, or 

 oats and peas, may be made into hay or ripened, and so reduce 

 the root shift and the winter bill for feeding stuffs. (In suitable 

 circumstances lucerne might be tried.) 



3. — A third possibility is the lengthening of the rotation by 

 the introduction of temporary leys. If these were of three 

 years' duration, then in a rotation of seven years there might 

 be three shifts in corn, or 43 per cent, as compared with 50 

 per cent, in a 4-course rotation. The production of about an 

 extra quarter per acre, which might reasonably be expected 

 in the case of the longer rotation, would bring the yield of 

 corn per 100 acres arable up to that of the shorter rotation. 

 Thus, from the standpoint of corn production, the country 

 would not lose by the change ; indeed, it might well gain con- 

 siderably. The root and clover crops would probably be 

 healthier. 



There remains the doubt that will arise in many minds as to 

 whether temporary leys can be successfull}^ established under 

 all conditions. In Scotland, in Wales, and generally in districts 

 with considerable rainfall, the practice is already common. 

 Trials have been made in other districts, but further experiments 

 on this point in such districts are necessary. In experiments 

 carried out in the Eastern Counties under the auspices of 

 Cambridge University it would appear that such leys can be 

 successfully laid down, particularly if the seed mixture adopted 

 is on the lines of the Clifton Park system, that is to say, if it 

 consists of a variety of pasture plants including those of a 

 deep rooting and drought-resisting character. 



Many of the heavier and of the lighter lands, too, are to-day 

 suffering from lack of organic matter. The former are con- 

 sequently difficult to work and both are apt to dry out. The 

 ploughing-under of a three-years'-old turf would go far to 

 mitigate this state of affairs. 



4. " — ^The last resort is a return to permanent grass. In the 

 case of difficult, inaccessible, or inadequately drained land, or 

 land adjoining the homestead, which has recently been ploughed 

 out, a return to permanent grass may be justified, but care 

 should be taken to choose a suitable seed mixture. The 

 present cost and scarcity of seed makes such care all the more 

 necessary. Farmers with no experience to guide them should 

 consult the Agricultural Organiser of their county, with a view 

 to being supplied with all available data on the subject. 



