On Permanent and Temporary Meadows and Pastures. 209 
which can be obtained far more surely by the chemical analysis 
of the soils which are to be laid down to grass. 
M. Goetz sowed separately the various kinds of seeds, and 
afterwards he mixed those seeds which succeeded best on the 
soil to be laid down to grass. JNow, those seeds which succeed 
best are always those whose wants are best supplied by the 
elements which the soil places at their disposal. 
We could then, now that the requirements of the various 
grasses are accurately known, gather from the " trial " meadow- 
plan of Goetz a fairly accurate idea of the chemical com- 
position of the soil on which it is proposed to operate. But 
why occupy ourselves with forming a meadow of plants most 
suited to the composition of the soil, when we can by means of 
manures modify the composition of the soil itself in any way 
we wish? 
The choice of plants ought chiefly to be determined by the 
physical properties of the soil ? If it is moist, we should employ 
those plants which least fear moisture ; if it is dry, those which 
are best suited to withstand drought. Of those which conform 
best to these two conditions we should prefer those which give 
the best fodder, and those which flower nearly about the same 
time, especially if the grass-lands are to be mown. For grazing 
land the last point is of less importance, but we should avoid 
those plants which cannot resist the treading of the cattle. The 
mixture being adjusted in accordance with the principles laid 
down, taking care also to add a due proportion of leguminosae 
to the graminaceae, we .can calculate the average requirements, 
by consulting the figures given in the preceding tables. We 
must conduct our system of manuring in such a manner as to 
satisfy the requirements of growth, taking also into account the 
original chemical composition of the soil. 
We shall learn further on, how more particularly to en- 
courage certain kinds of grass and impede the growth of certain 
others, so as to maintain the grasses best suited for the pro- 
duction of hay of good sound quality. 
Maintenance of Grass-lands. — Permanent and temporary 
grass-lands must alike be properly nourished if we do not 
want to see them rapidly fall off in their returns. The mode 
of maintaining them must be varied as they are to be mown or 
grazed. 
For grass-lands which are to be mown, the treatment will 
consist essentially in the annual restitution of the mineral 
elements carried off by the crops, and with which the soil is 
not superabundantly supplied. This restitution of the whole of 
the mineral elements supplied by the soil to the crop carried 
off it should be complete. The most suitable manure to effect 
VOL. XVIII. — S. S. P 
