Report on Laying doicn Land to Permanent Pasture. 459 
6 lbs. Italian Rye-grass. 
f) ,, Peri-nnial do. 
3 ., Cocksfoot do. 
2 „ Timothy do. 
3 „ Meadow Fescue. 
1 „ Various-leaved do. 
2 „ Bough-stalked Meadow-grass. 
2 Ibe. ileadow FoxtaiL 
1 „ Crested Dogstail. 
1 „ Kibgrass. 
5 ,, Alsike Clover. 
5 „ White do. 
3 „ Cowgras-s. 
Total = 40 lbs. per acre. 
The young grasses should, I consider, be allowed to flower and seed before 
being depastured, and therefore I prefer to mow during the first sea.son or two. 
In selecting land for permanent pasture, or meadow, I would certainly put 
down the stiff clays, and keep in tillage those which can be easily worked for 
green crops. I am fully satisfied that the additions I have made to my 
pasture and meadow land " pay " me, but I have not gone into minute calcu- 
lations. I have never known naturally wet land over-drained for grazing 
purposes. 
With regard to the still arable portion of my farm, I have also upon this 
increased the grass-producing area. Instead of ploughing out the clover-root, 
as was m3" custom when I entered upon the farm, I now leave it " green side 
up" for two, three, or even four years, according as it may be grazing to my 
satisfaction. My former course was oats, roots, wheat, seeds ; and, to insure 
a better set of grass for the longer period, I now add to the usual mixture 
for alternate husbandry a few pounds of the earliest and best permanent 
grasses. My land does not become foul under this extended rotation any 
i more than when I practised the four-course shift. 
As to the improvement of well-established grass, I consider this can be best 
effected by the consuming upon jt at all possible seasons oil-cake and other 
feeding stuffs. Such, at any rate, is my practice, and I am in this way 
enabled profitably to keep a larger head of both cattle and sheep. 
My experience in the formation of permanent pasture has been chiefly upon 
stiff clay land, such as would not grow with profit either mangolds or turnips. 
The light soils here will not grow good grass ; moreover, they will carry more 
stock when kept under cultivation. Our plan has been to clean the land effec- 
tually by means of a thorough fallowing, then to plant wheat or barley, very 
thin, and sow the grass-seeds broadcast, in April, covering them with the 
bnish-harrow. We have not tried sowing without a crop. In a climate so 
dry as ours (our rainfall averaging only about 26 inches), we consider that the 
grain crop is invaluable as a shade to the young seeds. With a more humid 
atmosphere I should be inclined to sow down with rape. 
; After harvest, if the surface of the seed- field be spongy, it is desirable to use 
a heavy roller freely. Much of the failure of clover is due to mechanical con- 
dition. No stock should be allowed on unless the seeds be very big, and then 
; only light mouths, as lambs and calves, should be run over. If a light coat of 
1 foldyard-manure can be spared, the same may be applied in winter and carefully 
spread; but as the lumps of manure are often injurious to the delicate seeds, I 
I prefer an artificial dressing, such as soluble phosphate, potash, and ammoniacal 
I salts, applied in sirring. The question of mowing or pasturing would depend 
upon the nature of the soil ; on light land I would certainly graze with young 
cattle, but on strong soils mowing encourages root giowth. Where the plant 
is thin it may with advantage be allowed partially to seed. Old sheep are 
Egbert Jeffeesoit. 
10. ESCEICK, XEAE YOEK, 
2 H 2 
