HO Recent Experiences in layiiig doicn Land to Grass, 
[For Schedule of Questions, see page 126.] 
3Ip,. Robert A. Elliot — continued. 
Jteasonsfor hai/ingjirat year, 
T. It prerents injurv from cropping. 
II. It gives an opportunity for seeding up vacant spaces, wMch, when 
resown, will be sheltered bj the grasses as they grow up for the 
hay crop. 
III. It enables the grasses most fully to extend themselves above and 
below ground. 
The injury caused by cropping grasses before they have perfected their 
growth and got a firm hold of the land is far greater than is generally 
supposed. If plants are not torn up, which they often are, the roots are 
disturbed, and much ruptured, and the plant is very liable to be thrown out 
by frost, and will also suffer more from drought. 
Though I hare decided that laying down with a crop in the manner 
aforesaid is the safest plan, I am of opinion that good and clean pastures may 
be made on any system of laying down if — 
I. First-class seeds of kinds suitable to the soil and climate are put 
down. 
II. If the land be not stocted either till after a crop of hay has been 
taken, or till about the time that the plants have begun to 
throw up their flowering stems in the summer following laying 
down. 
in. If in the spring following laj-ing down blank spaces are reseeded. 
To laying down without a crop the objection is, that you must either injure 
your grasses with grazing or lose your rent. Before laying down it is 
important to break up (not turn up) the subsoil as deeply as possible. 
It is a common idea that you must enrich your land before laying down. 
I have found this to be an error. The richer the land is, of course, the better ; 
but I have found that land being in poor condition is no obstacle to laying 
down, as long as you subsequently enrich the land in any way most 
convenient. 
Mr. ;Mark J. Stewart. ^I.P.. Arda-ell, Wigtonshire. 
1. ArdweU, in "V\'igtonshire. — Light sandy land, black top with clay sub- 
soil. Much of the land is only from 4 to 8 inches deep till you get to till 
and stones. Southwick, in Kircudbrightshire. — The land is heavy, or light, 
and much mixed with granite grit. 
2. Yes, generally ; but much of the land is only stone-drained, and has 
been done forty years. It has not been specially drained for grass. 
3. Average of last eight years, 34^ inches. Climate damp, mild, very 
little frost, and showery. 
4 and -j. The best seeds that could be procured, all subject to the analysis 
of Mr. W. Carriithers, F.K.S., Consulting Botanist to the Royal Agricul- 
tural Society. One year (18S3) I tried Mr. Faunce De Laune's mixture as 
per article in Royal Agricultural Society's 'Journal,' Part I., No. 35, 1882, 
p. 261 — but no cowgrass, and 2 lbs. of Yarrow instead of 1 lb. Many 
varieties of mLstures have been used. My young grass at Ardwell and 
Southwick annually exceeds 100 imp. acres, and is all carefully sown with 
different mixture.'. 
Some of the best I find are the following : — 
