130 Recent 'Experiences in laying doivn Land to Grass. 
\_For ScJiedule of Questions, see page 126.] 
Sir John H. Thorold — continued. 
atout forty years ago and are now good pasture, and of others of about the 
same age which are very bad and seem never to improve. 
13. So far, that has not happened in this district. A great deal of grass 
was plouo-hed out when corn-growing was profitable, and what has been laid 
down will not do more than restore the previously existing proportion 
between arable and grass. The population has not been reduced, but work 
is scarce, from unprofitable seasons and failure of the turnip crop. 
14. Not upon the strong clays, as the expense of properly cleaning the 
land again would be great. 
Mr. W. H. Hall, J.P., Six Mile Bottom, Newmarket. 
1. The soil on which I have laid down pasture has varied from a light 
to medium sandy loam, with a subsoil of upper chalk, to a stiff boulder clay 
with similar subsoil. 
2. Only in the latter case the land was drained before sowing. 
3. The rainfall is very low, ranging from 15 to 20 inches. Very dry- 
ing winds prevail, rendering the climate generally most unsuitable for 
pasturage. We are largely dependent on stored water, which we catch off 
roofs in tanks, or from the watercourses in flood-time. 
4. My seeds were generally a seedsman's mixture obtained from Sutton. 
5. They did include ryegrass, except on one piece, which was mainly 
sown with cocksfoot, meadow fescue, and Dutch clover. 
6. Generally with a crop. 
7. I have always sown in spring, because of sowing with spring crop, 
except on a very small garden plot, which was sown with excellent result 
early in September. I think early autumn sowing would answer best, 
because of our dry cold springs. 
8. I graze first crop and cut for hay, alternately, and graze with store 
cattle and sheep alternatel}'. Our second crop is hardly worth mentioning, 
as our summers scorch the pastures three years out of four. 
0. The ryegrass, I believe, generally disappears. 
10. I think not. 
11. I have not got one yet, after trials varying from fourteen to four 
years. 
12. Yes, if there is a difference, I should give it in favour of the pasture 
without seeds, where it has been freely grazed. 
14. I think it might, relying mainly on ryegrass and red clover. 
Mr. James Stratton, Chilcomhe, Hants. 
1. Ohalk subsoil ; the soil being in some cases very light, in others red 
and very strong. 
2. 1^0 drainage was neccssafy. 
3. About 33 inches. 
4. One bushel Italian, ^ bushel ])el'pnnial l'5'egras9, G IbS; timotliy, 
4 lbs. Dutch ; but if the land was fresh to broad clover, I used less ryegrass 
and 8 Ibf. of clover, whicli gave a greater crop for the first year, which 
being fed off witli cattle eating cake well manured the land, aiuf so was the 
means of establishing the permanent grasses, which were little seen nt flr.st. 
This seeding would, if required, also cut a good hay crop the first j'ear, 
which would be worth a good bit of money and so pay for tlio co.st of seeding 
down J but, of course, mowing would delay (he formation of good pasture. 
