1905.] Experiments on Seeding of Pastures. 



227 



and from fifteen to twenty-five pigs may be kept per acre ; 

 though it is not absolutely necessary, they have been found to 

 give the best results when receiving in addition some maize or 

 other grain. 



Lucerne, either in the form of hay or in its green state, is a very 

 nutritious and palatable food for all kinds of farm animals. It 

 is more nutritious than clover, but on account of its high per- 

 centage of protein it is not a well-balanced ration, and should be 

 combined with some other food which is rich in carbohydrates, 

 such as maize or barley. 



In common with other leguminous crops, lucerne has the power 

 of gathering nitrogen from the air, and thus adds to the fertility 

 of the soil on which it is grown. Not only does the soil become 

 richer in nitrogen, but other mineral constituents are made more 

 available because of the penetrating power of the roots of this 

 plant, which extend to a great depth and bring up mineral 

 supplies from the subsoil. 



The West of Scotland Agricultural College have recently 



published a Report by Professor M'Alpine on experiments 



on the seeding of pastures carried out in 



Experiments on I9 oi-i 9 o 4 . The object of the experi- 

 the Seeding" of y \ ^ , r 



Pastures.* ments, which were conducted on plots or 



one-tenth of an acre at seventeen farms, 



was to ascertain the composition of a first-class seed mixture for 



one year's hay and two or three years' pasture. It is pointed 



out that the first requirement is a good hay crop for the first year 



a crop of maximum weight and nutritive value. A second. 



requirement is good pasture after the hay — pasture which the 



stock relish, and on which the maximum stock may be kept. 



A third requirement is that the grass should, as far as possible, 



keep down weeds — such as Yorkshire fog and bent — and should 



leave the land clean for the succeeding crops. The fourth 



requirement is that the land should, as far as possible, be 



enriched by the pasture, and so be more favourable for 



succeeding crops. 



The ingredients used for making up a grass mixture may be 



See " Use of Rye-Grass in Seed Mixtures," Journal, May, 1904, Vol. XI., No. 2. 



T 2 



