484 Report on Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 
For arable cultivation I should select such land as can he worked in almost 
any weather, and of justsufiScient acreage to provide straw for horses and cattle- 
in winter ; the remainder I would lay down in grass. 
As regards those seed-fields not put down permanently, I let them lie as 
long as they are growing well. At this time, out of 92 acres of arable land I 
have 34 acres in seeds ; the remainder of the arable land I work in alternate 
green and corn crops. In consequence of letting the grasses lie for a longer 
term than formerly, I have added to the mixture of seeds perennial ryegrass, 
cocksfoot, Timothy, and white clover. If lain down clean, land will not become- 
foul; but when found to be dirty it cannot be cured except by being broken 
up again. I cannot too strongly recommend the use of lime to all grass- 
laud ; even in limestone soils it can hardly be used too often, or too heavilvv 
I have, by its use, completely eradicated moss from my pastures. 
I have in some instances improved old grass by harrowing heavily and then 
sowing white clover, trefoil, cockslbot, and Timothy, giving a heavy dressing 
of soil and lime. I have also eaten a great deal of cake and corn on the land, 
with excellent results. Another plan is to dress with farmyard-manure, or, 
failing that, with 3 cwts. superphosphate and 1 cwt. nitrate of soda. Thus 
the value of the grass land is, I may say, doubled, as is also the quantity of 
stock it will carry. 
G. B. Davies Cooke. 
Reports from the South of England and South Wales. 
Collated by MORGAN EvANS. 
1, Bagwokth Park, Leicester. 
I am yearly tenant of 515 acres of strong loamy land, with a red marl subsoil. 
My farm comprises 325 acres of ai able land, and 190 acres of meadow and 
permanent pasture. I commenced laying down permanent grass in 1871, 
and have since completed 125 acies. I was induced to take this course 
from dearth of agricultural labour, this being a colliery district. I selected 
the land on account of its being otttlying and well watered. My plan for 
preparation has been (1) wheat, (2) turnips, (3) seeds, sown with a corn- 
crop. To my mind, land, for all purposes, cannot be too well drained. I sow 
light and heavy seeds all together in the month of April ; some permanent seeds- 
by themselves ; some the usual rye-grasses with a great quantity of white 
clover, cow-grass, and alsike, &c. I would sow the seeds without a crop but for 
the expense. I use lime and soil, or farmyard-manure on the young seeds the 
second year, and 4 or 5 cwt. of bone-dust. About the fourth year the seeds 
are grazed. Mowing the first year gives the small seeds a better chance of 
establishing themselves. I find this system far more remunerative'' than corn 
growing, as I keep four cart-horses the less, save 150Z. per annum in labour, 
and keep about 200 more sheep, and 70 or 80 more beasts. All this I have 
accomplished without any aid from my landlord. I keep the best and most 
convenient land for arable purposes, and lay the worst under pasture. 
My course on the arable land is — (1) fallow, (2) barley, (3) seeds, (4) oats, 
(5) wheat, so that all the arable land grows seeds once iu five years, which are 
partially mown, partially grazed, and then broken up for oats. I have never 
reduced my system to figures, nor have I altered my mixture of seeds. 
Keeping always the same lands for the two separate purjwses, it is always very 
clean, with little labour, as it has not time to run to filth. I improve the 
grass laud by meaus of cake, and consuming roots on it. I mow about 40 
acres once a year, and find grass land pays far better for manuring than arable. 
Geouge Bass. 
