488 Report on Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 
5. Bbampton, Huntingdon. 
I have in some instances laid down old arable fields with seeds for perma- 
nent pasture ; but from my experience of these cases I should decidedly say 
that, as a general rule, no occupying tenant can do so advantageously, as it 
will take a lifetime to make good old pasture out of old arable land, and at 
such an expense as no tenant, even upon an ordinary lease, would encounter. 
I think it much better, under the present circumstances attaching to the 
labour-question, to extend the period allowed for artificial grasses on my 
arable land, and especially the more extensive cultivation of sainfoin. Sain- 
foin will keep well down for six j^ears, thrives admirably on our clay-soils 
having a trace of chalk in the subsoil (which most of them have), and grows 
nearly double the weight of produce to any other artificial grass, such as red 
and white clover, which we have long been in the habit of sowing ; every 
kind of stock is fond of, and does well on, sainfoin. Its cultivation is in- 
creasing rapidly, especially upon the high ridges of poor country dividing 
this county from Bedford. Ou the Cotswold Hills the rise in the wages of 
the agricultural labourer has not had much effect. A few farmers are trying 
the four- instead of the five-course system, which will rather increase the 
labour of the farm, but not to the extent many think, there being considerably 
less work required to clean the land. 
Peter Pukvis. 
6. Patching Hall, Chelmsfoed. 
I rent on lease, with the usual modem covenants for the county of Essex, 
about 1000 acres of land, mostly clay or marl. The rainfall here, in Ongar 
and Epping district, is above the average of the rest of the county. I 
commenced farming in 1854, and have laid down no more pasture ; and 
should well consider before breaking any up. The proportions of my farms 
are : — arable land, 600 acres ; meadow and pasture, 400. I have always 
farmed for making meat and rearing live stock. Land for pasture, I think, 
should be a retentive soil, not gravelly. The land should be in good condi- 
tion ; and my plan would be to sow grass and mixed seeds in summer or early 
autumn, after several ploughings. I put my drains further apart on pasture 
than arable land. Some pasture land is better for draining, but some is better 
left alone. I assisted my father to " inoculate " several acres, which answered 
well, but I should not attempt it in the present state of the labour-market. 
I believe it much better to mow the j'oung crop the first time as soon as 
possible before the seeds get at all matured ; the after-treatment is imma- 
terial, so that sheep are not allowed to eat out the clover and finer gi-asses too 
closely. The more manure the better. In short, it will scarcely answer the 
jmrpose of any tenant-farmer to lay down pennanent pasture without the land- 
lord's assistance, as after two or three years the j^roduce decreases unless the 
land is very well treated, and a good pasture imtil after many years is the 
exception in this district. Therefore more stock can be kept by a succession 
of grasses, vetches, and roots, than on ordinary arable land. I have not found 
it difficult to improve old pastures, but would rather not make new ones as a 
matter of business. 
David Chkistt. 
7. WooDHAM Lodge, Chelmsford. 
I hold a lease for fourteen years on a farm of 403 acres, and have no tenant- 
right beyond the custom of tlie district. The soil is thin, on a subsoil of 
clay and loam ; one field, however, is gi-avell}' . My farm originally consisted 
