The Herbage of Pastures. 
365 
ENGLISH rASTUREf. 
No. 26. — A turf sent by Messrs. Wood & Bowman, 32, English Street 
Carlisle, Cumberland. It was taken from " King Meadow," a piece of per- 
manent pasture on the estate of Mr. Miles Maclnnes, M.P., Rickerby, 
situate along the north side of the river Eden, immediately above the Bridge 
at Carlisle adjoining Kickerby Park. Messrs. Wood and Bowman write: — 
" The great feeding qualities of the pasture are acknowledged on all 
hands, and we may state that it is at all times of the year eaten very 
close and never permitted to seed. This is an interesting fact, as we 
expect a large portion of the herbage will be found to be rye-grass, and 
probably white clover. We had occasion to cut a drain through it 
recently, and although eight feet deep, we were not through the soil, 
which is a rich alluvial deposit.'' 
In a subsequent communication they say : — 
" In our first letter to you on the subject we stated our belief that the 
main portion of the herbage would be found to be rye-grass and white 
clover. Upon closer examination we find there is also a plant, apparently 
of the carrot species, which appears to be growing all over the field. 
Being near the town the present tenant takes in large numbers of sheep 
and cattle to graze, so that it is at all times eaten very bare. This we 
take to be of importance, because, if on examination a fair percentage of 
rye-grass be found, it ought to go a long way towards demonstrating the 
perennial nature of rye-grass, which seems to be a good deal disputed. 
At any rate, if rye-grass be found, we feel pretty sure that in this 
instance it cannot have been perpetuated by seeding." 
They add that the pasture must be a very old one, as they cannot hear 
of its ever having been ploughed. The turf was nine inches deep, and the 
soil presented the appearance of a very uniform brownish sandy loam, a few 
root-fibres being noticeable on the lower face. As the herbage grew it was 
noted as bein^ of a rich grassy character. Cut on July 6 it yielded : — 
Gramineous herbage, 99 | Leguminous, a trace | Miscellaneous, 1. 
The leguminous herbage consisted exclusively of Trifolium repens. The 
miscellaneous herbage was made up of Conopodium denudatum, Rumex 
Acetosa, and Ranunculus bulbosus, the first named being the plant of the 
carrot family (Umbelliferse) referred to in the correspondence. The separa- 
tion of the gramineous herbage gave the subjoined percentage results : — 
Lolium perenne 69 Poa trivialis 3 
Agrostis stolonifera .... 10 Anthoxanthum odoratum . . 1 
Holcus lanatus 6 Undetermined 7 
Phleuni pratense 4 , 
No. 27. — A turf sent by Mr. Tom Birkett, Penrith, from a prime old 
pasture at "The Lawn," Kirkoswald, Cumberland. Mr. Birkett writes: — 
" ' The Lawn ' is situated on the bank of the river Eden, and has, since 
1856, been let to graze, as one of the College Estate Grass Parks. I 
can get no evidence of its ever having been ploughed, and have no hesita- 
tion in stating that it has been pasture for the last huudred years. It 
has the reputation of being an excellent feeding pasture, and the turf 
sent will therefore, I think, answer your purpose." 
The turf was dug nine inches deep, and the soil was a chocolate-coloured 
loam, very uniform and friable. There was no trace of rootlets on the deep 
face. Cut on July 1, the turf yielded : — 
Gramineous herbage, 70 | Leguminous, 1 | Miscellaneous, 29. 
