330 The Improvement of Grass Lands. 
efforts which plants put forth to fulfil the purposes of nature. 
Ofttimes, if a plant is likely to die, it will at once blossom and 
endeavour to produce seed ; whilst on the other hand, annuals — 
such even as mignonnette or wheat — if kept down the first year 
and not allowed to seed will, although annuals, live on and 
produce seed the next year. So also with trees. If you have a 
pear-tree that will not bear, and you cut the roots, the tree, true 
to nature's instincts, at once bears a crop. The Rev. Mr. Bow- 
ditch, in his Essay (vol. xlx., p. 247), quoting from a leading 
article in the ' Agricultural Gazette,' of October 25th, says,. 
" The truth is, these better grasses, suitable to an improved soil, 
are all of them more perennial in their nature and habits, and 
are kept so because cattle continually crop them down ; whereas 
poor grasses are refused by cattle, they seed without interrup- 
tion, and then, having performed the important function of 
reproduction, they die out." I have dwelt at some length upon 
this point, as it has so important a bearing upon meadows, and 
the latter portion upon recently laid meadows especially ; and it 
will decide the knotty point as to the best farming for newly 
laid land. If it be grazed with sheep, they do great mischief 
by biting the best grasses into the earth, and thus weakening 
them by preventing the extension of the roots, which grow in 
proportion to the plant. Cattle, in grazing, do a similar mis- 
chief, but to a less extent, as they do not bite so closely as- 
sheep. On the other hand, if the grasses are allowed to seed, 
their object in nature is accomplished ; the annuals are lost and 
the rest weakened. Still, to strengthen the roots you must grow 
top. — See the roots of clover in a field that has been mown 
twice, and compare them with those in a field that has been 
grazed. Therefore, my belief is that the proper course is to 
mow the fresh laid meadow, taking care to cut it before the 
grasses even come into blossom, and thus continue to cut in the 
first year, using the produce as green food. 
While upon this part of the subject, I would mention that 
much improvement may be made in meadow-land by care in 
grazing. Too many sheep should not be kept ; where practi- 
cable, I would suggest small enclosures, so that the stock can be 
frequently changed, and to graze the enclosures alternately with 
cattle, horses, and sheep, taking care to graze close during the 
months of May and June to prevent the grass running to seeds. 
This may be done by the use of corn and cake. This, I am 
satisfied, is best upon inferior meadow-land ; but it may be 
open to question, as to prime land, where the stock will eat 
the whole of the grass, whether it is not more desirable to get 
the land covered early in the season with herbage, so as to 
prevent it burning up by keeping the land cool. This 1 have 
