llecent Experiences hi laying down Land to Grass. 145 
[For Schedule of Questions, see page 126.] 
Mr. C. E-andell — continued. 
year, but I have seen that where this has been done cocksfoot and timothy 
are stronger afterwards than where the seeds have been grazed. The ex- 
planation seems to be this : that the ryegrass is much earlier than cocks- 
foot the first year, and becomes old sooner. Sheep then prefer the latter, and 
if the land is stocked with sheep sufficiently to keep down the ryegrass they 
eat out the heart of the cocksfoot, whereas by mowing the ryegrass, cocks- 
foot and timothy have time to become stronger, and the pasture after the 
first year is better than when not mown. 
The farms to which I am referring consist in pai't of useful pasture-land, 
part good arable land, adapted to the gi-owth of roots and all other crops, 
which must be kept in tillage to provide winter food for the sheep required 
in summer upon the clay-land about which I have been writing. In no 
case would I convert good arable land in this climate to permanent pasture ; 
nor would it be well to leave the seeds down more than one year where the 
clay-land portion of the farm was to remain in seeds as I propose. 
Mr. William J. Harris, JIolv-lll Manor, Hir/hamptoyi, Devon. 
1. Soil varied, part a light hazel loam on porous subsoil, other parts a 
stifler loam on clay (mostly yellow clay). TopsoU from 6 to 12 inches 
deep. 
2. In places draining has been necessary, and wherever permanent seeds 
have been laid down the wet spots have been cured. 
3. The climate is very wet, average voinfall more than forty-five inches. 
4. I always select my own seeds. I largely use crested dogstail, 
cocksfoot, timothy, ribgrass (a little), perennial ryegrass (a good deal), and 
various clovers, including trefoil. 
5. The perennial ryegi-ass forms at least half of the mixture. 
6. I greatly prefer to sow grass seeds with a corn crop. 
7. I prefer to sow in the month of April and May. 
8. I prefer, if possible, to dress the seeds with very short dung during the 
first winter, and not to stock at all, or only occasionally with sheep during 
very dry weather. I cut them the first summer, and then I stock with 
yearlings or sheep. I sometimes throw a few more permanent seeds, such as 
crested dogstail and white Dutch clover and trefoil, in the spring of the 
second year. 
9. Ihe ryegrass has always diminished, and that is my reason for sowing 
a few more permanent seeds in the second year. I, however, consider 
perennial ryegrass as a valuable grass, aud the old meadows have a good 
deal of it. 
10. If stocked too much there would be a diminution, I am sure ; but they 
may be stocked judiciously in dry weather. 
11. From four to eight years, and even longer on some land. The land can 
hardly be called meadow land even in the longer period, but it is useful 
pasture, that about pays for its cost in manure, &c., as well as a moderate 
rent. I think artificial manures would make useful grass land if frequently 
applied, but they do not produce what we in Devonshire call meadows. 
12. Yes, I have .seen a great deal of this. It seems to be now too 
generally taking place in some parts of Devonshire. 
l.j. Certainly. In my article in the National lievieiv, November 1887, 
I said : — 
"I have mentioned the decrease in population in the parishes around. How 
is that caused ? It is caused entirely by so many farms being without 
a tenant, and consequently no labour employed. An auctioneer is 
VOL. XXIV. — S. S. L 
