The Management of Grass Land. 
9 
From the elevated position of the general class of downs, they 
are found particularly healthy, and valuable in connection with 
other occupations. 
The Idlhi pastures are of two classes : the moderately elevated 
and low hills, which are rarely approached by the plough ; and the 
high hills, which, from their acclivity and elevation, are necessarily 
appropriated to stock of a local character, and are found produc- 
tive and useful in their order. The moderate or low hills (such 
as produce fine short herbage) are found more governable, and 
are for the most part depastured with sheep. At the base of these 
hills herbage is frequently found sufficiently rich for fattening 
sheep, or the breeding and rearing of them. Those hills of mo- 
derate acclivity with a sufficiency of soil are capable of great im- 
provement, particularly where blocks of even ground are inter- 
mixed with them ; in support of which I may refer to the marked 
results of those districts or farms on Exmoor, Somersetshire ; 
which have been recently renewed by means of paring and burning 
the natural herbage, and then supplying lime to the soil previous 
to its being again laid down to grass. After the burning and 
liming have been completed, these lands have been prepared and 
sown with root crops, followed by oats, the grass-seeds being sown 
with them, or sown down without a crop of corn ; in such case a 
little cole-seed might be mixed with it, which would afford excel- 
lent keeping for sheep in the autumn ; the latter would, I think, 
be the better practice when the land is intended for permanent 
pasture. Such fields as have had the largest portion of lime given 
them are found to produce excellent roots, oats, and grass ; and, 
when depastured a few years, make an excellent appearance and 
form a thick herbage, while those which have had a moderate 
supply of lime show the improvement only in a corresponding 
degree. Again (to show the value of lime), on such parts as 
have been renewed, and have received no lime, the grasses are 
gradually returning to their former indigenous character. In the 
absence of the process of renewal, much good has been effected on 
these native grasses by the application of a top-dressing of lime, 
thereby causing the modern grasses to spring up, and to a great 
extent eradicate the former occupants. 
The aspect of pasture-lands in the hilly districts forms an 
important proof of the principle of warmth, as we find those 
lands sloping to the south, or receiving the rays of the sun more 
directly, to be influenced most in their productive or vegetating 
powers, while those hanging to the north are less productive and 
of a different character. 
In fact, such is the importance of aspect, that we find on close 
observation that the natural grasses vary both in number and 
character. If a survey be taken round even a moderate hill, this 
