476 Report on Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 
much progress will be made in laying down land to permanent pasture; and 
if attempted to any extent it will, I believe, be an enforcement caused by 
the increasing expense of labour, and a step that will not be to the advan- 
tage of either producer or consumer. Indeed, I should consider it a retro- 
grade movement, though possibly in a more moist climate it might be 
otherwise. 
Where land in this county is laid down in any appreciable quantity, it can 
hardly be expected that the tenant should do the work without some assist- 
ance from his landlord. A very considerable loss would be incurred while 
the grass was getting established, unless there were a corresponding advantage 
through permission being given to break up other land. I believe there are 
in this county tracts of poor tenacious clays and light sandy soils which, il 
laid down in grass, could not after the first three or four years pay any rent 
at all ; indeed, I know of only a very limited extent of land that could be 
laid down to advantage. I have noticed, in some districts, portions of hilly 
land naturally disposed to go into turf; and where such lie at a great distance 
from the farm premises advantage might rightly be taken of these circum- 
stances to increase the extent of pasturage. 
In laying down land to grass, my experience and observation teach me 
that, where necessary, it should be first properly drained, and all bottom watei 
and deep springs removed. I would then cultivate deepl}% and give a clean 
bare fallow, so as to get the land thoroughly pulverized ; then apply 2 tons 
of lime per acre if the land is deficient in lime, and sow the grass-seed; 
early in spring. If lucerne is not sown with them, a thin seeding of beans 
oats, or barley may be used ; but if no com is sown the operation will b( 
more likely to succeed, from the fact of a greater amount of moisture beini 
retained. 1 have tried both plans side by side, the result from the piec( 
without the corn being the more satisfactory ; the advantage in the one cas( 
being quite equal to the value of the corn-crop in the other. 
As to seeds, I would recommend to avoid the expense of sowing the finei 
kinds not natural to the district ; for even if they appear at all they onh 
remain for a short period; whereas the kinds indigenous to the localitj 
must, if encouraged by liberal treatment, eventually succeed. Avoid grazin;. 
too closely with sheep, and mow early. Give frequent light top-dressing; 
of any kind, if even it be refuse manure. I have laid down at differen 
periods on my own farm several pieces of permanent grass. The soil is ; 
good clay loam, well drained. Upon two of these plots, as soon as the lani 
was sufficiently dry in the spring, I drilled from 16 to 20 lbs. of luceme L 
to 14 inches apart in the rows ; and then sowed, broadcast, grass-seed 
suitable to the soil, avoiding, however, too much perennial rye-grass, an( 
leaving out entirely the Italian; in fact, white clover and cocksfoot formed; 
large proportion of my mixture. The lucerne cut a light crop the sam' 
autumn, and in May or June following, as the season allowed, a good crop o 
green fodder was cut, followed by two or three other cuttings during th' 
summer and autumn. Uijon two other portions, the lucerne cmly was drilled 
it was constantly cultivated between the rows, and mown green for three o 
four years, and then the grass-seeds were sown : the latter plan answered best 
Lucerne with me is a valuable crop, this soil being peculiarly suited to it ; i 
seemed to encourage the grass-seeds, which had become thoroughly establishd 
by the time the lucerne died out. 
Frequent top-dressings, as I have said before, are necessary for new pss 
tures, and liquid manure I have found of great benefit, espcciallj- when applie 
in spring. 
I have in one instance known " inoculation " answer well ; in another 
noticed that it was^an expensive and by no means satisfactory -ojicratioi 
I have not myself had courage to try the system, and therefore cannot spea 
