272 Farming of Cumberland, 



instance, No. 8 is better adapted to peat or clay soils than to 

 limestone ; 1 1 does not answer on clays or peat, but thrives well 

 on limestone ; 3, 4, 5, 6, do best on deep meadow soils ; and all 

 the rest succeed on land in good condition, if naturally dry or 

 well drained. The above list is intended for being sown about 

 May -day, or, if that time be missed, at the end of July on well- 

 prepared land, and without corn-crop. Where the land will bear 

 treading with sheep, the addition of 2 lbs. of rape-seed, or half a 

 bushel of Italian rye-grass per acre, will afford shelter to the 

 young grasses in hot weather, and forms an excellent ingredient 

 in the pasture during the first year for sheep. This is found to 

 be a superior mode of laying down land for pasture, and is fast 

 gaining ground over most of the country. 



Persons wishing to sow down land for permanent pasture or 

 meadow, and having a portion of prime old grass land, should be 

 at the pains of railing off a part for seed. As soon as the first 

 of these grasses ripen, a part should be cut ; and in ten days, or 

 a fortnight after, another part ; and so on till the latest grasses 

 ripen. These, harvested as they become ready, thrashed, and the 

 whole of the seeds mixed, will be certain to suit the climate, and 

 any soil approaching that on which they grew. This method 

 would also insure that grateful variety of aromatic and other 

 plants found on rich pastures, lohich no one thinks of sowing with 

 his grasses. 



The common method of sowing land down with a corn-crop is 

 to give 1 bushel of perennial rye-grass, and from 6 to 10 lbs. of 

 the clovers, trefoil, and rib-grass, in various proportions. This 

 allowance seems sufficient for the hay-crop, but is deficient, both 

 in quantity and variety, for pasture in the two following years. 



For one year's hay-crop, and one or two years' pasture, the fol- 

 lowing- is suitable : — 



Perennial ryegrass 

 ItaHan ditto 

 Rough cocksfoot 

 Timothy grass 

 Red clover 

 Vv^hite ditto . 



1 bushel. 



•2 n 



J stone. 

 5 lbs. 



^ stone, per acre. 



The Italian rye-grass and red clover disappear after the first 

 year, and the rest form a thick sward of longer continuance. For 

 a crop of hay alone, it is sufficient to sow — 



Perennial ryegrass * . . .1 bushel. 



Italian ditto . . . . 1 



Red clover 8 to 10 lbs. per acre. 



Sown grasses are now more frequently depastured than in 



* Annual rye-grass is hardly to be met with in the seed shops, and when found, 

 is neither cheaper nor better. 



