454 Report on Laying dottm Land to Permanent Pasture. 
3'ear, oats ; second year, rape, consumed by sheep. Tliii-d year, the land being: 
clean from all sorts of weeds, we ran a two-horse grubber through it and then 
across it, thus stirring it nicely without burying the sheep-droppings or 
uprooting the rape-stocks which were still alive ; we then sowed our per- 
manent mixture, and got a splendid crop of both rape and seeds, which feil 
off 9 sheep to the acre during the summer. The latter method I consider 
decidedly the better. The seeds included Pacey's and Devonshire evergreen rye- 
grasses, cocksfoot, three or four of the fescues, rib-grass, Timothy, cow-grass, 
alsike, white and Welsh red clovers, mixed and sown together, the proportions 
varying according to the soil and situation iinder treatment. In other instances 
where we have put down to grass we have applied with advantage 5 cwts. of 
raw bone-meal, 1 cwt. Peruvian guano, and 1 cwt, phosphates per acre ; wfr 
then gave one stroke with the chain-harrow, sowed, and rolled the seeds. 
This dressing lasts very well on this land for five years, when we repeat the- 
dose. We always depasture young seeds with sheep the first year, not eating 
them too bare at the end of the season ; afterwards we can safely add a few 
cattle. 
A continued outlay in grubbing out old fences, putting up and planting 
new ones, &c., charged to farm account, prevent so far a fair comparison 
between our present and former systems, but I find that the quantity of 
animals kept has, since we increased the pasture, been nearly doubled. I 
should recommend farmers to lay down the colder, close-bottomed land, and 
keep under the plough the warmer, free turnip soils. 
With regard to the improvement of old pasture lands, we have not, except 
on the meadow land, applied any farmyard-dung, but I have, and with very 
good results, put a dressing of 5 cwt. per acre of bone-meal on about 80 acres. 
These 80 acres now carry 50 per cent, more stock than before, and that stock 
does 50 per cent, better. 
Our practice on meadow land is to mow regularly once a year, manuring for 
each crop with farmyard-dung and artificials alternately. I cannot speak 
as to the extent to which grass land need be drained, because this farm, except 
in a few spots, is naturally dry. 
Alexander FuLTo^% 
Estate Agent to W. H. Wakefield, Esq. 
4. Hackthorpe Hall, Westmoreland. 
I rent my farm of 350 acres rmder the Earl of Lonsdale. I hold it fron* 
year to year, and have no tenant-right ; nor do I desire any, as I am of opinion 
that a good farmer makes a good landlord. 
The soil is a strong loam, resting upon limestone. 
In 1866 I laid down 20 acres to i^ermanent grass, and in 1872 another field 
of 20 acres, which will remain as pasture if I find it continue to graze wellj 
but 1 am doubtful about this, as it was previously so hard ploughed. 
I was induced, by the increased and still increasing cost of labour, and by 
the enhanced value of live-stock, to have more of my farm under grass : more- 
over, I consider our climate (we are 800 feet above the sea-level), and the 
aspect of my farm, more suitable for growing live-stock than grain. 
Land intended for permanent pasture is best preiiared by growing a crop of 
roots with farmyard-manure, and raw and dissolved bones ; the roots should be- 
pulled off, and followed by a grain-crop, barley preferred. Strong land which has 
been frequently jjloughed, if intended ibr grass, must be ploughed deeper, or sub- 
soiled, as it is impossible to make land graze where there is a hard pan a few 
inches below the surface. This pan must be broken, so as to allow the water 
