The Management of Grass Laiid. 
valuable winter-pastures for sheep, which, with attention and some 
artificial aid, are frequently ready for market when the period 
arrives for closing the pastures to prepare for early grass. 
Pastures resting upon a clay or cold subsoil vary materially in 
their periods of production from those upon gravel, they being 
more backward in the spring (through the absence of warmth); 
but they are found to progress with the summer, and are indeed 
most nutritive during the hottest months. These pastures are 
not usually cleared of their winter-stock until about the 1st of 
April, when they are cleaned up, and allowed to remain until 
ready to receive the cattle. The period depends entirely upon 
the temperature of the spring, as in some situations they vary as 
much as from 10 to 15 days in the period of stocking, which 
proves inconvenient to the occupier. 
The surface-soil of these pastures, being perfectly dry though 
resting upon a cool subsoil, is very durable, and carries a heavy 
proportion of stock, which improve rapidly and become ex- 
ceedingly good. The old pastures rarely require resting during 
the summer beyond a short period for sweetening, when the 
cattle are removed to market. In the best-managed districts the 
clots are regularly gathered and the weeds kept down, which 
asssists materially in keeping an even pasture ; thus, when 
properly cultivated, they run less to bunches or " fog " than others. 
The general herbage is of an even and sweet character, arising 
from the cool and healthy subsoil. About one sheep per acre, 
with nearly an ox, is the general run of stock placed upon them 
in the commencement : care being taken to have the sheep fat 
and removed to market soon after clip-day. The bottom herbage 
then advances, and improves the pasture for the cattle. When 
these cattle are removed, the fields are again supplied from the 
inferior pastures, and in many instances about two sheep per 
acre are placed upon them, with a proper quantity of cattle, all 
of which, by the end of the season, are sufficiently fat for 
market. The store or winter beasts then follow to clean up, 
and are allowed to remain according to the situation and local 
circumstances. 
These pastures carry at least two sheep per acre during the 
winter months, but do not make them so fresh in condition as the 
warmer soils. 
It is somewhat remarkable to state that we rarely if ever find 
these soils assisted in any way by artificial means beyond the 
return of the manure that may have been gathered during the 
summer months : hence the value that is usually placed upon 
these old pastures, they being exceedingly productive and nearly 
free of expense, both as regards manual labour and artificial 
aid. 
