14 
The Management of Grass Land. 
effects of nature in connection with the food of these grasses : we 
find that when the soil has not been properly prepared, or the 
modern grasses properly selected, or the soil has been exhausted 
of the particular food suitable to the selected grasses, the indi- 
genous ones spring up ; hence the slow return from these newly- 
formed pastures during the period of conversion, or while they 
are adjusting themselves, "under Nature's care," to the soil and 
situation. They gradually form a thick sward of rich and 
nourishing herbage upon well-cultivated soils, but are of moderate 
worth when sown upon neglected or worn-out arable lands : the 
mere laying down to grass will not make good pasture lands, how- 
ever long they may remain ; of this the commons, heaths, downs, 
&c. afford sufficient proof. Lands laid down to pasture, with or 
without a corn crop, are known in ])ractice to form separate or 
distinct results, particularly in after years. Those laid down in 
corn crops are a considerable time in forming good pasture lands, 
while those laid down without a crop of corn (when the soil ia 
properly prepared) become at once exceedingly rich and fertile, 
and represent an improved temperature. Being enabled to 
absorb more of the sun's warmth, they continue to have a very 
perceptible lead of those grown in the corn crop, by which the 
soil to a great extent has been also exhausted ; the grasses are 
consequently less luxuriant in their growth. This is an important 
feature when it is considered that the young grasses (clover in 
particular) derive support from the atmosphere in due proportion 
to their strength of foliage or growth produced by the food sup- 
plied them in the soil; hence the herbage to be consumed and the 
growth of the roots are found to progress in a corresponding ratio : 
yet however striking these results may appear, they form but 
another proof of the importance of good cultivation blended with 
a proper knowledge of natural tendencies. 
Inoculation, or the transplanting of turf, is another mode by 
which some tillage lands are laid down to permanent pasture : it 
is best adapted to such light soils as are not naturally of a grassy 
nature, as when the soil has been well cleaned of its weeds during 
a whole summer fallow and nicely prepared to receive the turf 
(which should be cut from good clean pasture lands), the grasses 
and their roots, being ready formed on a good soil, will stand a 
better chance of success, as they also receive a ccmsiderable pro- 
portion of their food from the atmosphere. When turf from 
inferior pastures is selected for this operation, it rarely answers; 
it would be far better to sow the land down with mixed seeds, 
suitable to the soil, than to run the risk of a failure. The 
autumn is the season preferred for transplanting turf. The til- 
lage is by that period properly prepared and the moist season 
better adapted to the cutting and planting of the turf^ and 
