Report on Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 469 
loamy soils I slioukl keep under cultivaticn, for where such are laid down less, 
stock will be kept. 
Grass-seeds I would sow in July or August, and, as I have already said, I 
ivould do this without a grain-crop. If weak, I would mow the young seeds, 
but certainly not pasture with sheep. 
The average rainfall of this district is 45 inches. 
George Drewey, 
Agent to his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, 
20. Eeam Hills, Kirkham, Lancashire, 
My farm of 280 acres I have on a yearly tenure, under the Earl of Derby. 
Half of it consists of a strong free soil, resting on a clay and marl subsoil, and 
he rest of it is moss-land, part of which has been recently reclaimed. Our 
■ainfall averages 33 inches. About 60 acres have been in jjermanent grass for 
iftecn years, and 90 have been laid down during the last four years. I was 
nduced to extend my breadth of gi-ass land by the high price of fat and lean 
itock, and by the increased cost of agricultural labour. The fields I selected 
or sowing down were of the heavier class, as these soils always retain the per- 
nanent grasses best ; moreover they are expensive to cultivate. I have always 
nixed the seeds thoroughly and sown in April, with a corn-crop, allowing it to 
•ipen. I have found the following mixture of seeds do well, viz., perennial 
■yegi'ass, Timothj% ribgrass, cocksfoot, foxtail, meadow-fescue, cowgrass, white- 
•lover, alsike, and trefoil. This dressing is particularly adapted for heavy 
and: on lighter soils I would use the same sorts, but increase the grasses and 
essen the quantity of clovers. I never mow, but pasture with sheep and 
roung cattle, keeping the seeds well eaten down. During the first three or ■ 
bur years I would dress well in spring with boiled bones and a little nitrate 
)f soda. I apply all the farmyard-manure on my arable land. Since I have 
aid down so much land I have considerably increased my stock. 
Old pastures will pay well for improving, and this may be best done by 
ipplying bone-manures and composts, and by feeding sheep upon them with 
;orn, &c. 
My experience teaches me that pasture land should be well drained. 
Peter Blundell. 
21, The Grange, Worslet, Manchester. 
My fann of 445 acres I rent luider a six months' notice, and without any; 
enant-right. About three-fourths of my holding consists of old bog-land,, 
■eclaimed from Chat Moss, while the remainder is a mixed soil, with a portion 
)f sound average land. Having already 140 acres of permanent pasture, 100 
)f meadow, and 205 of arable land, I have not laid down any portion to grass, 
n fact when, in two instances, I did attempt to do so, I failed ; for this 
and I find will always revert to its original character of herbage. I have, 
herefore, of late years simply sown the usual mixture of clovers and Italian 
•ye-grass, with a little trefoil ; and this, after mowing once, I leave in pasture 
me, two, or three years, according to seasons and the condition of the seeds, 
rhis being a large dairy and root-growing farm, the system is varied only to- 
ry and make the most of eveiything, and so meet increased and increasing 
expenses. Here, within the past 2h years, labourers' wages will average a rise 
