125 
surface : the larger seeds not more than just covered, by draw- 
ing a fine rake on the level surface, and afterwards sowing the 
small seeds and covering them no farther than w hat was effected 
by a repetition of the roller. The results further shewed, that, 
next to a course, inconsolidated, or loose surface, the practice 
of deep sowing was, in the second degree, more injurious to the 
vegetation of the seeds and the first progress of the plants, than 
any other error that could be made in the manual part of the 
])rocess of sowing the natural grasses on a soil of good quality. 
When land is to be sown for permanent pasture, no admixture 
of any annual or grain crop, or broad-leaved clover, should be 
admitted with the grass seeds. Experience proves that they 
are highly injurious to the intention of speedily forming a solid 
j)roductive sward ; and that the profit that may accrue from a 
grain crop thus obtained, will be much overbalanced by the loss 
of grass in the two following seasons. Every plant of these 
annual crops occupies a place, to the detriment of the expected 
sward ; besides rendering the surface porous by the decay of 
their roots in the end of autumn, much mischief, likewise, is 
done to the sward by portions of the crops being beat down 
with heavy rains. The above mixture should be sown in the 
autumn or spring, at the rate of four bushels and a half to the 
acre; much less will form a good pasture, but when the seeds 
can be had from the farm at a moderate expense, the maximum 
quantity should be adopted. *f sown in spring it will be found 
highly useful, in the following autumn, to give the surface a 
slight top-dressing with rotten manure or compost, in which the 
seeds or roots of weeds are not suspected, and to sow immedi- 
ately after half a bushel, more or less, of the mixture of seeds, 
according as the sward appears to be deficient of plants ; after 
which, (the top-dressing being previously well reduced by a 
slight bush-harrow,) the roller should be liberally used; and 
rolling for the first two years, should never be neglected at any 
favourable opportunity. If the seeds are sown in autumn, the 
top-dressing, resowing, and rolling, will be found equally re- 
quisite and beneficial in the following month of May ; and even 
if repeated in the following autumn, they will greatly forward 
the intention. This is imitating the process of nature in form- 
ing pastures, — with this advantage, that for one seed of a valu- 
able species of grass supplied to the soil by the slow and gradual 
163 ADCTAEIDM. 
