Report on Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 487 
for arable, the strongest and the lightest. I have done nothing to arti- 
ficial grasses on land that is still farmed as arable. For improving perma- 
nent grass, harrowing in autumn and spring, with a flexible spiked harrow, 
has had a good effect ; also folding with sheep, giving them roots, &c. ; as 
well as ground bones and farmj'ard-manure, the latter far the better ; but for 
arable land I use artificial manures. I mow as little as possible and obtain 
hay from artificial grasses upon arable land. On the whole this result has 
been most satisfactozy, and I think gi-ass laud pays for judicious outlay in 
improving it more quickly than arable. 
Jamks Howard. 
4. WoBUEN Abbey, Bedford. 
The extent of the present home-farm is 433 acres, together with the value 
of 200?. per annum on an open park (an agistment), all being property in hand. 
The nature of the soil is variable — one-third a poor sand — one-third a poor clay 
— and the remainder a medium loam. The rainfall is about 22 inches. We 
began laying down pennanent grass in 1866, and have since completed 483 acres. 
The proportions of the farm were — arable land, 514 acres ; sheep walk, 190 ditto. 
A portion of meadow land has since been added to open park land. This has 
been an experimental farm for many years, consequently there has been no 
change in the system of management. The greater portion was laid down 
with a crop of barley — a small portion without a crop— there was no oppor- 
tunity of comparing the two systems. Moor-lands, I think, may be over- 
drained. Uplands for arable or pasture should be jjroperly drained. "We sow 
seeds all together in March. My predecessors used the following mixture, 
and it has been fairly successful to the present time, viz. : — 
2 pecks of Perennial Eye-grass | 
2 lbs. of Cocksfoot 
2 lbs. of Timothy. ) per acre. 
7 lbs. of White Clover. 
2 lbs. of Eed Clover. / 
Light land should be sown with a crop allowed to ripen. In autumn sow- 
ing a sprinkling of rape. In treating the young seeds, I would top-dress with 
soil, compost, or farmyard-manure ; depasture with sheep, and run the mow- 
ing machine over the gi'ound in September, if the grasses have run largely to 
seed. It is undesirable to depasture with heavy cattle, as they tread the 
ground too much. A few yearlings may be allowed to top the grasses. 
Although the system has not been in force long enough to say which payo 
best, the following items may lead to some conclusion : — 
1865. Labour .. .. 1578?. Horses .. .. 14 
1873. Labour .. .. 637?. Horses .. .. 6 
Stock. 
April, 1866. 1874. 
Sheep, 1389 1995 
Cattle, 210 172 
Thus the breeding of sheep has increased, and that of cattle decreased. 
C. Stephenson. 
For the Duke of Bedford. 
