Layinr/ doum Land to Permanent Pasturr. 
417 
autumn, it will gonoially bo unnecossaiy to apply otlier manure; 
but if the land requires assistance, a top-dressing of 2 cwt. per 
acre of Peruvian guano, or the same quantity of nitrate of soda, 
should be ap})lied when the grass is well establislied, say 2 inches 
high. 
Soirinq. — Choose a still day, as a rough wind would prevent 
the regular spreading of the seeds. Some men who are used to 
it will sow grass-seeds well by the hand ; but it will generally 
be done better with the common seed-barrow. This will distri- 
bute the seed very evenly, either in one mixture of clovers and 
grass-seeds together, or (which is most visual) by going tVv'ico 
over the land, sowing the light grass-seeds first, passing up or 
down the furi'ows, and subsequently crossing the lands with the 
mixture of clovers and other heavy seeds, 
A bush-harrow, or the lightest iron harrow, should be applied 
immediately before and after sowing, thereby covering the seeds 
before birds or a change of weather can interfere with them, care 
being taken that as few seeds as possible are buried too deeply, 
or remain uncovered. After harrowing, the whole should be 
carefully rolled. As to the best season for sowing, though much 
has been written in favour of autumn-sowing, we have no hesi- 
tation in saying that the spring is preferable if the land can be 
made ready. With very heavy land, however, in a wet spring, 
it is often late in the summer before it is sufficiently pulverised, 
and if later than the middle of June, it is well to defer the sow- 
ing till August or September ; but in autumn-sowing there is 
great probability of losing the clovers, as, while in a young state, 
they are apt to be carried off by slug or frost. Therefore, if 
autumn-sowing is adopted, it is well to examine the young 
pasture early in the spring, and, if the clovers are found to be 
deficient, to sow more of the same kinds immediately, which 
will take very well if the grasses are not too strong. 
By spring-sowing we mean sowing during the months of 
March, April, and May ; and, generally, April Avill be the safest 
and most favourable month of the three. If, however, the land 
is quite ready by the middle of March, and tlie weather favour- 
able, it would be good policy to sow without delay, rather than 
incur the risk of the seed-bed being spoiled bv a change of 
weather. If it is desired to grow a crop of corn, the time of 
sowing the grass-seeds will be either immediately after the corn, 
or else when the corn is two inches high — the former being most 
favourable for tlie grass. As to the question Avhether it is best 
to sow with or witliout a crop of spring corn, it is no doubt 
safest and best to sow the grass-seed alone, especially where the 
object is to obtain a fine park-like sward as soon as possible. 
One great advantage of this practice is, that if the land has not 
