146 Recent Experiences in Idijinrj down Land to Grass. 
l_For Schedule of Questions, see page 126.] 
Mr. William J. Hareis — continued. 
called in every spring, and he sells the feed of every field for the 
summer months. The amount realised has been in every case for some 
years past more than the rent that any farmer could possiblv pay." 
14. This depends on the profit of tilling at present prices. I believe there 
is a loss on tilling land, and it is better to let it lie in grass, however poor ; 
but I am still breaking land myself, because I wish to keep my men 
employed. 
Dutch ... 5 lbs, 
Alsike , , . o .. 
Mr. R. Strattox, Tlie Buffrijn, Nevport, MonmouthsJiire. 
1. Sandy loam, in some cases resting on the Old Red Sandstone, in others 
on gravel. 
2. Drainage unnecessary. 
3. Rainfall about forty inches ; climate generally mild and humid. 
4 and 5. My own mixture. I have laid about 120 acres with the foUowing : 
1 bushel of common ryegrass, 6 lbs. Dutch, G lbs. alsike. I now sow — 
RyegTass . , , 1 peck 
Cocksfoot • , 10 lbs. 
Timothy , , , 6 „ 
6. "With corn crop in all cases. 
7. I have always sown in spring. 
8. I have always mown the first year, subsequently generally grazed, some 
with sheep entu-ely, others with sheep and cattle. In one case I have mown 
every year for twelve years, and generally manured with sheep in winter 
eating roots and cake. This has done well, always producing a satisfactory' 
crop, and always my first cutting. 
9. It has disappeared in great measure, but not entirely ; on the field above 
alluded to there is still a good proportion. 
10. There is certainly less than in the first year, but generally there is a 
fair sprinkling after twelve years. 
11. Everything depends on the treatment. Where well manured with 
farmyard dung, and cake-fed, I have a good pasture the second year ; but if 
starved it will take a long time, and probably be never of much account. 
12. I have seen such, and where well treated with manure, and cake-fed, 
the result has been perfectly satisfactory. 
13. That must necessarily be the case. In my own case I have of course 
reduced my laboiur bill, but I cannot say that the population has decreased 
in the neighbourhood in consequence. 
14. This depends on circumstances. No doubt the system alluded to will 
be largely adopted, aud is being adopted. 
lo. I think the great mistake people make is in not treating their newly 
laid grass liberally. I look upon manure and cake-feeding as the secret of 
successful laying land down to grass. It depends more on this than on tbo 
selection of seed, as the indigenous grasses will assert themselves. Rut I 
think the mi.xture I am now using, above named, is decidedly preferable to 
the one F used formerly. I have had no experience of the finer grasses here, 
but from what I have seen I am disposed to stick to my own mixture. 
Major F. L. Dashwood, Kirtlington, Oxford. 
My experience in laying land down to grass is not great, but I am in 
favour of using the best seeds most adapted to the class of soil, to be sown in 
a thinly drilled crop of corn in the spring — not a barley crop, if possible. To 
