Eepo7-t on Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 457 
sometimes -without, taking care in the former case to give an extra dose 
of hones, guano, or other artificial manure, sowing the seeds ahout the end of 
April ; or, if alone, at the end of July or August. I sow the light and heavy 
seeds separately. Timothy grass, I tind, is much relished by all kinds of 
stock, and thorei'ore my mixture includes, besides Italian and common r3'c-grass 
and the several kinds of clover, 1 stone of Timothy : the oat-grasses and such 
like will, I find, come abundantly of themselves. I may say that 1 prefer seeding 
down without a crop; but if the opposite plan be adopted, I would recommend 
that tlie seeds be slightly eaten immediately after harvest, and then top-dressed. 
I mow the first year, and for this reason : I consider the seeds make better and 
stronger roots, and sooner acquire that thick bottom which is so important. As 
to the profit arising from my altered mode of management, I am satisfied it is 
considerable, as about three times the number of stock is annually bred and 
fed oft'. 
Draining can, I consider, for grazing purposes be carried to an excess ; it is 
sufficient to check the growth of rushes and other coarse herbage. 
I find that recently laid down grass, if properly manured from time to time, 
increases rather than diminishes in fertility as it acquires maturity. 
David Eaplet. 
7. Crossbill, Wigton, Cumbekland. 
I occupy 245 acres of my own property. The major portion of the soil is 
good, and adapted for the growth of cereals generallj', but more especially oats 
and "barley ; the subsoil is red sandstone and gravel or clay. The remainder is 
soil of fair quality, on good clay subsoil. The average rainlall is about 33 inches. 
A variety of circumstances, beginning with the year 1854, have induced me 
to lay my land Aown to jiermanent pasture ; and more recently the increased 
cost of agricultural labour has acted as a further stimulus. I have generally 
pursued the following method of preparing, cleansing, and seeding down the 
land; that is, after amjile preparation, I have taken a turnip crop, which 1 
consumed on the ground by sheep, and in some instances a second turnip croi> 
eaten on in like manner ; then, after ploughing and well pulverising, I sowed 
down in April or May with a liberal quantity of seeds — which I varied accord- 
ingto the natureof the soil — -in addition to 4 lbs. of rape, or a little barley, to be 
eaten green. I applied a liberal dressing of seeds, which I varied according to 
the nature of the soil. The best after-treatment for young seeds, or old grass 
land, is a covering of well-rotted farmyard-manure, spread on in the autumn ; 
but I have occasionally observed stock dislike for a time the herbage so pro- 
duced. I would depasture rather than mow, and with sheep in j)reference to 
cattle, taking care never to punish the pasture by eating too bare for a seasoii 
or two. 
I do find considerable increase in the number of animals kept, especially 
in summer ; under the circumstances little winter forage is provided, with the 
exception that the farm carries more stock in summer than in winter. My 
impression is that the best descriptions of soil pay most in grass, while poorer 
land is more suitable for tillage. 
Some situations require more complete draining for arable than for grazing 
purposes. 
Pattikson Hayton. 
8. MusGEATE Hall, Skelton, Cumbeeland. 
In addition to my own estate of 320 acres, I occupy 70 more upon lease. 
It is principally a deep strong soil on limestone, sandstone, and clay. Our 
average rainfall is 38 inches, and the situation is somewhat high and exposed. 
VOL. XI.— S. S. 2 H 
