Layiwj down Land to Permanent Pasture. 
421 
old turf early in the spring to loosen the soil for the admission 
of seeds, which, if sown freely, will occupy the numerous small 
spaces between the <jrasses already growing, and supersede the 
coarse grasses and noxious weeds. 
It is a good practice to sow these seeds at the same time as 
the top-dressing, if any is applied ; but this is by no means 
necessary. Th(» months of February, March, and April are 
proper lor sowing the seeds ; the earlier the better, as the old 
grass will protect the young from frost. It is also useful to sow 
in .July and August, immediately after can-ying the hay. Should 
the old turf be very full of moss, this is generally an indication 
that draining would be Ijeneficial. The following is, however, 
an almost infallible remedy for the moss, not only destroying it, 
but preventing the growth in future. Mix two cartloads of 
quick-lime with eight cartloads of good light loam, turning the 
compost several times that it may l)e thoroughly mixed and the 
lime slaked, and spread this qaaiditij ]jcr acre over the pasture, 
dragging the turf well with iron harrows. Cattle should not 
be allowed to graze at the same season as this dressing is given, 
or at least not till after one crop of hay has been taken. 
We offer the foregoing hints, on laying down permanent pas- 
tures, &c., founded on our own experience and observation 
during full thirty years, under the various circumstances and 
upon the different soils which prevail in this country ; and we 
flatter ourselves that, if they are acted upon pretty generally, 
considerable improvement will be observed in this important 
department of agiiculture. 
Pleading, Berks, January, 1862. 
XX. — T/ie Waler Economy of France in its relation to Acjricnltnre. 
By F. R. DE LA Tr^honnais. 
At a time when the attention of the legislature of the country- 
has been directed towards measures calculated to substitute a 
general and comprehensive system of drainage for the isolated 
and hampei'ed attempts to which, by the inadequacy of the 
English law, agriculture was previously restricted, a glance at 
the water economy of France, especially as regards its legal regu- 
lations, may not be inopportune. 
However enticing the development of this subject may be, 
it will be my study in the following pages to treat it as suc- 
cinctly as possible, and exclusively in an English point of view. 
No ambitious attempt will be made to grapple with the general 
question of the water economy of so vast a country as France, 
