Notes on Inoculation of Grass Land at Kimbolton. 
231 
desirable in certain places to increase the amount of permanent 
pasture. I believe that in this neighbourhood it would be 
desirable. 
When the price of corn was high, old grass land was broken 
up. Even now, when the price of corn is low, and when farmers 
doubt whether wheat will ever pay, some grass lands are so 
utterly coarse and unprofitable that it is advisable to break them 
up. But many, of the best farmers in this neighbourhood hold 
that they have not enough grass. They consider that the most 
desirable proportion is one-third grass to two-thirds arable. 
A few years ago, when I was discussing new terms of agree- 
ment with some of my tenants, the question of laying down 
grass land was touched upon. The advantage of doing so was 
acknowledged, but it was objected : " Who is to pay for doing 
so ? the landlord will not like to forego his rent, and the tenant 
cannot pay rent for land that is unprofitable for years." Shortly 
afterwards, I was struck with the persistency with which grass 
would come up in a gravel walk I had made across the park, 
and I was led to consider an economical process of inoculation. 
I explained my views to Mr. James Howard, of Bedford, who 
made a machine for me, which after a few trials and alterations 
has answered admirably. The process consists in cutting, as it 
were, a rope of turf out of old pasture. The dimensions of the 
*' rope " are 2 inches broad by about 1^ inch or 2 inches deep. 
Three " ropes " are cut at once by the implement. They are 
carted to the field to be laid down, and emptied upon it like 
farmyard-manure. The " ropes "are broken into pieces 2 inches 
square, and placed by hand on the ground about 9 inches apart. 
This is done about the month of November. By the next hay 
harvest the ground is covered with grass, and the planted tufts 
are as high as the meadows. The second year it is fit for 
grazing. After the first year the gaps in the old pasture, froir. 
which the turf was taken, are scarcely perceptible. 
I enclose an account of the operation by my bailiff, Mr. 
Wallis, and I should be glad if Mr. Morgan Evans would come 
and see the result of the experiment. 
Your obedient servant, 
Manchester. 
To the Secretary of the 
Royal Agricultural Society. 
Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 
His Grace the Duke of Manchester, to obtain permanent pasture as soon as 
possible, determined to try inoculation ; he therefore had an implement made 
by Messrs. Howard, of Bedford, for taking up the turf with less injury to the 
old pasture than is caused by the common plough. It cut three furrows, or 
