The Management of Gi-ass Land. 
11 
advantage : in fact, the heavy roller is an invaluable implement 
when freely applied to grass lands — instance those parts ol a field 
that have been by various occupations pressed or carted upon 
more that the average parts of the field — and we find them pro- 
ducing a different class of grasses, much greener in their appear- 
ance and more nutritive in use; they are more eagerly sought 
after by every descrij)tion of slock, and, while other parts of the 
field may be found to have "run away" in abundant seasons, 
these parts are always found fed down to the very roots. 
This shows the importance of assimilating the management of 
these pastures to those accidental, yet valuable, dictates — pressure 
and close feeding. 
Again, in connection with these soils it is important to remark 
that, in every case where the soil has been by one cause or other 
increased and darkened in its appearance or character, it is found 
more productive and much earlier in its spring shoot ; in fact, the 
grasses themselves have changed with the accumulation of this 
new matter. 
In no instance is this process better shown in practice than by 
pointinj? to hedge-sides, <;orners, or other sheltered parts of a field 
which the cattle or sheep have frequented most ; and on many of 
the first-class soils, such as the "ox-pastures," we find that, if 
care be not taken to check the accumulation, those parts of the 
field become wild and so coarse in their growth, that even oxen 
refuse to eat them after the first shoot has been taken off, 
A variety of artificial manures as top-dressings or stimulants 
are used for improving these pastures, such as nitrate of soda, 
guano, lime, salt, bones, soot, &c. ; but as the pastures neither 
tluow up nor contain any amount of vegetable matter, a preference 
is given to a staple manure, or prepared compost, &c. 
The draining of this description of soils is rarely attempted, 
for they are generally found resting upon stony or other porous 
subsoils. Yet we often find even pastures which are liable to be 
burned up improved by draining; the roots, having but little 
depth of earth to range in, become exhausted, as they refuse to 
enter the noxious substances contained in unhealthy subsoils. But, 
when properly drained, the rains that fall will gradually wash out 
the noxious matter, and the roots will follow to a great depth, 
and ultimately receive a more abundant and certain supply of 
food from the thus increased and improved depth of healthy soil. 
The more profitable occupation of these soils or pastures is the 
transfer of the greater part of them to arable culture, whereby 
whole districts would be improved, and even a greater amount of 
beef and mutton supplied from them (in addition to the corn 
produced) for an increasing population, as also supplying the 
agricultural labourer and artisan with additional employment. 
