. 232 JVotcs on Inoculation of Grass Land at Kimlolton. 
rather slices, 4 in. x 4 in., which we cat into lengths of about 4 inches. We 
then made furrows with the common corn drill 18 inches apart, and planted 
the pieces of turf the same distance in the rows. But as we proceeded, his 
Grace thought it would be better to ',ilant them promiscuously (or, as we say, 
broadcast), we therefore altered to that plan. His Grace thought it v.'ould be 
a further improvement to cut the pieces smaller, and plant them nearer. We 
tlierefore had the implement altered to cut the strips of turf 2 in. x 2 in. ; 
these we pulled (not cut) to pieces about 2 inches long, and planted them about 
9 inches apart, and thus we planted the remainder of what we did that season 
(November 1873). As soon as the land was sufficiently dry, we rolled it with 
a heavy roller, and left it until the spring, when we kept the land clean by 
frequent hoeiugs, the tufts growing and spreading well. These we let grow 
until the seeds were nearly ripe, when we cut it with the mowing machine, • 
shedding a great deal of the seed. The hay was not worth saving, from having 
stood so long ; but the object was attained, viz., to sow the spaces with the 
natural grass-seeds. After a nice rain it was completely covered with fine 
grass, which we let grow until the autumn, when we eat it off, but not close, 
with young horned cattle. The portion we had planted with 4-inch pieces 
had a rather rough and uneven appearance, though well covered with grass. 
But that planted with the 2-inch pieces was nearly as level and good as old 
grass land. The next autumn we therefore proceeded to finish the field with 
2-inch pieces ; but frost and snow interrupted the work, so we had to leave it 
until the spring. We planted some in February, but it did not succeed. 
We therefore ploughed that portion up and gave it another summer's fallow, 
and we have just finished planting that portion. But that which we planted 
in November, having been treated in the same manner as the first portion, has 
the appearance of old grass land, being well covered with natural grasses and 
white clover, on which we have grazed our dairy cows this autumn. 
Of course it is too early to form a decided opinion ; as we know that after 
land has been laid down with the best grass-seeds for a few years it goes off, 
and do what you may, it will not become a good pasture for the next seven 
or may be ten years. But judging from present appearances, this does not 
appear likely to occur in this case. And in regard to expense, we know that 
to lay down to permanent pasture properly, by sowing, is very expensive, as 
it is absolutely necessary to thoroughly fallow and well manure the land in 
both cases; and it is admitted on good authority that it is best to lay down 
without a crop ; the difference is only between planting and sowing, the labour 
in preparing the land being the same. 
And we find that in 1873 it co»t il. IBs. for horse work and manual labour 
to turf 1 a. 3 r. 10 p., or 21. lis. per acre. In 1871, being very bad weather, it 
cost 9?. 14s. Gd. to do 2 a. Ir. 25 p., or 4?. Is. per acre. In 1875 it cost 
21. 10s. id. to do 6 r., or 3/. Ss. per acre ; so that if we had to do a field of, 
say, ten acres, it would not cost more than 3/. per acre, as in doing it in such 
small pieces, and the weather beiiig so unfavourable in 1874, it cost consider- 
ably more than it would under more favourable circumstances. That which 
was done in 1873 and 1874 already looks better than some that has been laid 
down with seeds fifteen to twenty years. 
John Wallis. 
Eiitibolton Park Farm, 
November, 1875. 
In accordance with the Duke of Manchester's request, I visited 
Kimbolton Park Farm on the 29th of November last, and 
inspected the field which had been subjected to the several 
experiments in inoculation. The plot last treated completes 
