Rqiort on Layinrj doion Land to Permanent Pasture. 475 
for tillage. I have not tried the " inoculation " system, but, from what I 
have seen, do not approve of it. 
Young seeds should be depastured, as being the best way of keeping the 
land in good condition. 
I find that my farm pays me better now than it did under the former 
system; and yet to winter a large stock entails a heavy outlay in purcljascil 
food, and in cutting, steaming, and pulping, so as to make the smaller quantity 
of straw grown go as far as the larger formei'ly went. I am able to keep fully 
two-thirds more cattle, but not more sheep. Our grass, much of which is strong 
and rank, is not adapted for sheep, though it is all we could desire for cattle. 
As regards the improvement of old grass, there is no doubt that lime, where 
it can be easily obtained, is invaluable ; it is the best, cheapest, and most per- 
manent manure. Bone-dust is a good fertilizer, and is easily applied ; and 
green forage-crops, roots, &c., consumed by cattle on land which grows rough 
tough grass, have a good effect. 
I mow the same meadows every year. I am well repaid by improving" my 
grass land. I can keep more cattle, and what I breed are as good now at two 
years old as the}' used to be at three years. 
Thomas Swakn. 
28. Aldwark, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. 
My farm of 470 acres I rent from year to year imder the Duke of Piutlaud, 
The subsoil is limestone. I have laid down more or less land to pasture for 
32 years, as I find it advantageous to diminish the area under plough. I have 
generally selected fields furthest from the homestead, and those too thin in 
soil for frequent ploughing. I prefer to lay land down with a crop of rape 
after liberally manured turnips, rather than with a white crop. I sow light 
and heavy seeds together between the 6th and 18th of May. I hke my 
own old meadow seeds, with the addition of from 3 to 4 lbs. of red and 
white clovers per acre, better than any bought mixtures. "Where a turnip 
crop has not immediately preceded the rape, I apply, at the time of sowing 
the latter, 4 to 5 quarters of crushed bones per acre, adding about 4 cwt. of 
Proctor and Ryland's grass-manure to give the grass-seeds a start. I should 
not mow during the first three or four years if f thought cows and sheep 
would eat the seeds bare enough. I have sometimes eaten them till Maj^ 
and then, if they have been too strong, mown about the middle of July. I 
have done all this laying down to grass at my own expense ; and, although I 
have made no particular calculations, I am satisfied that tliis mode of fanning 
pays better than my former practice. If grass will take on heavy soils I 
should certainly keep the more friable under the plough. I consider land should 
be made as dry for pasture as for corn and roots. aj 
The land which still comes under a rotation of crops I keep down longer 
.;n grass than I used to do. 
Bones applied to old pasture answer well in this county, but there is 
nothing better than good farmyard-duns, if one could but get it. Consuming 
turnips upon it does good, provided the land is thoroughly dr^^ My grass 
and, since it has been improved, iiays me better than formerly; and the 
iDcrease in my head of cattle is considerable. 
Benjamin Buxton. 
I 
j 29. Shelton, Newark, Nottingham. 
* This county being more a corn-growing than a grazing district, with a dry 
"limate, generally dry soil, and a short rainfall (averaging 27-5 inches), as 
;onipared with many other parts of England, it is not to be expected that 
I ■ 2 I 2 
