462 Report on Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 
The turnips were dra^vn off in strips, one-half being eaten on the land by 
sheep, and the other half carted home for the cattle. 
As soon as the land was dry enough in spring, it was ploughed very lightly,, 
and worked down to as fine a tiltli as possible, and the seeds were sown at the 
end of April or beginning of May without a corn-crop. Immediately after 
sowing I liad the land heavily rolled. " Sutton's mixture of grasses for a loam 
of medium texture," costing 32s. per acre, has answered my purpose well. 
As to the subsequent treatment of young seeds, the land having been in 
this case laid down in good heart I have not found that any assistance was 
needed for five or six years ; but after this period 1 have usually folded sheep 
on the land in summer, allowing them to consume half-a-ton per acre of 
linseed-cake : the sheep had liberty over the whole field during the day, and 
were folded all night, and fed with the cake. I allowed tlie young seeds to 
be pastured with sheep only during the first season, but after that cattle also 
have been permitted. I prefer that the seeds should not be mown. 
This altered mode of farming has, I am satisfied, paid the owner well. 
Previous to Halton Castle Fann being taken in hand, in 1865, the lands now 
laid down would not let for more than an average of 23s. or 23s. Qd. per acre. 
In 1874 the summer eatage alone on these same fields, when let at auction,, 
brought, after making a fair deduction for tithes, rates, and cost of shepherd- 
ing, an average of fully 50s. per acre. I grant that j)ortions were taken for 
accommodation purposes, and therefore the comparison was hardh" a fair one; 
but I should say that if let to farm in the ordinary way these fields would 
fetch from 37s. to 40s. per acre. 
As a general rule, in Northumberland, I have not found it desirable to lay 
land down permanently that will fairly grow turnips, or on strong clay soils 
where, with good cultivation, four quarters of wheat per acre can be grown after 
a bare fallow. The latter may with advantage be allowed to lie three years 
in grass before being again ploughed up, thereby reducing the cost of labour. 
I consider that land intended for permanent pasture sliould, in all cases where 
requisite, be in the first outset thoroughly drained and well manured. 
Thomas Sample, 
Agent to Sir Edivard Blackett, Bart. 
13. MiLFIELD, WOOLEE, NORTHUMBERLAND. 
My farming operations are spread over many holdings extending to several, 
hundred acres. A portion of the land is my own property, the rest I hold under 
lease, without tenant-right. I have every description of soil, from stiff" clay 
to fine loam and gravel. 
In 1872 our rainfall reached 48'5 inches, but the average I take to be 
about 24 inches. 
As far back as the year 1833 I turned my attention to the laying down of 
permanent pasture, of which I have now done many liundred acres. I found 
stock-breeding and feeding pay better than corn-growing, although labour 
was not then so expensive as at present. 
Clay-lands are naturally expensive under tillage, but even fine friable soils 
have paid me better in grass tlian corn. My land has generally been rich and 
fit to lay down; but, wliere not so, I have taken two successive turnip crops,, 
and eaten them on the land with .shee]). 
I selected a mixture of seeds suitable to the soil and situation. I i)rcfer 
sowing with a crop of corn. 1 have not practised inoculation, but from what 
1 have seen of it I prefer the commoner method of sowing. 
I do not mow ; if I did, I should cut very early, before any stems harden 
