10 The Management of Grass Land. 
will be evident ; in fact, in no instance is the varied temperature 
of the soils more forcibly shown than in hilly districts. The 
pastures upon the southern aspects are found exceedingly useful, 
while those upon the northern sides frequently abound in rough 
sour grasses, m some instances scarcely worthy of occupation. 
The infcrioi' pastures, although numerous in their class and 
almost numberless in their character, may be treated under two 
heads, viz. the dry thin soils, and the cold or wet soils. Each 
is governed more or less by the nature of the subsoil, and other 
local difficulties it may have to contend with. 
The inferior dry soils are those of a thin character, resting upon 
subsoils of a stony, rocky, or other dry formation. The improve- 
ment of these pastures, from their thin and frequently unprofitable 
nature, is very little attempted, particularly by temporary occu- 
piers, or even those of an annual tenure. Those occupiers who 
have long leases, or have a guarantee from their landlords to be 
paid for unexhausted improvements, are found to be most active 
in the improvement of these soils ; they bring them under arable 
culture for a time, and then lay them down to grass again 
for a period of years. The former class of occupiers are too 
frequently prevented by some covenant from carrying out these 
marked improvements, hence their indisposition to spend money 
upon an uncertain occupation, particularly to improve " inferior 
grass land." With uncertain tenure they should be treated as 
permanent improvements, and aided by the landlord. The ma- 
nures or dressings applied to these pastures are numerous, care 
being taken to supply each character of soil or herbage with its 
rec^uired food, either in the shape of artificial manure or compost. 
It IS not uncommon to throw over the pastui-es a small quantity 
of mixed clover and hay seeds, suitable to the soils. These 
pastures, from their thinness of soil, are improved most by dress- 
ings of compost, it being found advantageous to increase and 
mix the texture of the natural soil with that of a more opposite 
character — thus, surplus soil, scouring of ditches, banks, weeds 
of any kind, road-scrapings, clots, or even any rubbish, may be 
collected into a heap and mixed with lime, which quickly de- 
composes the collection, and. after a few turnings, forms an 
excellent compost to be applied about Christmas, or when the 
pastures can be spared for such purpose. In the event of moss 
or other small weeds abounding in the pastures under improve- 
ment, a pair of harrows are found of infinite service in removing 
them. After this operation a small quantity of grass-seeds 
should be sown over the field (previously to the compost being 
applied), and by attention to the spreading and bushing the 
field the whole surface becomes apparently changed. After a 
short time has elapsed the iron roller is applied with immense 
