Recent Experiences in layinc/ down Lund to Grase. 120 
[For Schedule of Questions, see page 126.] 
Mr. James Howard— continued. 
13. Clapliam being contiguous to tlie populous borougli of Bedford is 
no criterion as to the effect, but I estimate that half the labour -will suffice 
for pastm-e where dairying is carried on, and much less than half where only 
neat stock is kept. 
14. Not in tliis district; the rainfall is not sufficient, especially in spring 
and summer, and the district is not naturally good for artiticial grasses. 
15. The third or fi;urth year after sowing is, as all men of experience 
know, the critical period for newly sown pastures, and the treatment should 
at this time be liberal, or the grasses will die out. If, however, the soil is 
well treated from the commencement, and was in good heart when sown 
down, the vigour of the grasses will be maintained. No horses, old or young, 
should be turned out, and if sheep are put upon new pastures they ought 
not to be depastured, but folded. My practice, with both old and new 
pastures, is to harrow them with a flexible spiked harrow twice a year — 
spring and autumn. The effect is to distribute the cattle-droppings, to let 
in any seeds which may be upon the surface, to disturb any moss which may 
have formed, or rough grass which may have become matted. A little 
money expended on weeding during the lirst year will pay ten-fold. 
Sil" John H. Thorold, Bart., Systoii ParJc, Grantham. 
1. Strong clay of the lias and Oxford formations. 
2. The land has all been drained within the last thirty years, but not 
especially for laying to grass. 
3. The climate of South Lincolnshire is usually dry. 
4. When I began to lay down land to grass I bought the best mixture 
I could get from eminent seed-merchants at two guinea.s an acre ; but since 
the publication of Mr. De Laune's article in the 'Journal ' I have bought the 
grasses separately, and with a guarantee of germination, and can show 
better results from the expenditure of 25s. ppr acre than from the 42s. 
5. The seeds sown latterly did not include ryegrass. The bought mix- 
tures contained an excessive quantity. 
6. I have sown down both with and without a corn crop, and with rape. 
I think in practice a light corn crop does little harm and helps to pay 
expenses. 
7. Spring sowing. I have sown four times in the autumn, and have 
only once secured a good plant. 
8. I have depastured the young grass with sheep and young cattle in the 
next autumn and the following year, but have not mown it excepting that 
were necessary. 1 have run the machine over it to check the annual weeds, 
and have left the cut grass upon the ground. I have eaten cake upon it, 
and manured with sulphate of ammonia and superphosphate of lime and 
with malt-kiln dust. 
9. The ryegrass has either dried away or become very weak. The seed 
stalks seem to be avoided by all stock when hard. 
10. The red clover .seems to die out after the second year, whatever the 
treatment may be. We have a red clover in our lanes and in some of our 
old pastures which I believe to be permanent. 
11. This depends very much upon the soil, the climate, the amount of 
manure, and the amount of seeds sown. In this climate, with plenty of 
manure, or with cake eaten upon the land, eight to ten years are required 
to make a good pasture. 
12. I know of several fields which were allowed to fall down to pasture 
VOL. XXIV. — S. S. K 
