242 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 10, 1885. 
the plants individually, and to judge for himself of their 
comparative value. Nor is it difficult to do this if only we 
would devote a little space for trial plots, and we submit 
that if this were done on every farm to test not only forage 
plants, but cereals, roots, and all other plants of the farm, 
the knowledge gained would prove highly valuable to farmers 
individually and collectively. Without it a man may think 
he is doing well if he can maintain four or five sheep upon 
an acre of grass; with it he is not content unless he can 
keep well fully double the number of sheep upon an acre. 
Can anything show more clearly the difference between 
knowledge and ignorance than this fact ? We are all wont 
to exclaim about hard times, to deplore the hardships of 
foreign competition ; but do we do all that is possible to 
“ meet the times ? ” Surely, if by superior cultivation of 
the soil and careful selection of plants we can double our 
profits, every sensible man will try and do so. 
Let is now now see what is known about plants for per¬ 
manent pasture by those who have given full attention to the 
matter. Before all things we must have Grasses which are 
known to be nutritious as well as palatable. Of these the 
best are Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), Timothy (Phleum 
pratense), Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), Meadow 
Fescue (Festuca pratensis), and Tall Fescue (Festuca elatior). 
These fine sorts of Grass are indispensable, and it has been said 
of them that sown in mixture they alone supply favourite and 
nutritious food throughout the year. Meadow Foxtail is of 
especial value for its early growth. Cocksfoot, however, takes 
the leading place, because it will grow in any soil, produces 
the greatest bulk of food, is so sturdy and robust that it 
suffers little from extremes of weather, is the most nutritious 
Grass, is eaten greedily by sheep and cattle in all stages of 
growth, and after the mowing for hay it makes quicker 
growth than any other Grass. Timothy follows Meadow 
Foxtail closely in spring, giving a free strong growth, 
and it continues to afford plenty of “keep” throughout 
summer. Both the Fescues mentioned are of strong growth, 
which is much liked by sheep ; and the stronger growing of 
the two, Tall Fescue, answers well in wet heavy soils. 
Now, these five Grasses have been objected to on the score of 
coarseness, but it has been proved by chemical examination 
and by experiments in feeding, that they are as nutritious as 
they are productive. The finer Grasses used in mixture 
with them are Crested Dogstail (Cynosurus cristatus), Sheep’s 
Fescue (Festuca ovina), Hard Fescue (Festuca duriuscula), 
Golden Oat Grass (Avena flavescens). Fiorin (Agrostis 
stolonifera) is also frequently recommended, but we never 
use it, owing to the fact of ergot being so frequently intro¬ 
duced into pastures among its seed, and it is beyond dispute 
that ergot is often the cause of abortion in cows. We are 
glad to find that general attention is being called to ergot 
in pastures as a source of abortion—many a so-called mys¬ 
terious case being traceable to it. 
A moderate proportion of Clovers is mixed with the Grasses. 
Perennial Bed Clover, White Dutch Clover, Alsike Clover, 
Trefoil or Nonsuch, in some places indigenous to the soil, and 
it is one of our best fodder plants, Yarrow. Taking 41 lbs. as 
a sufficient quantity of seed for sowing an acre, we may safely 
apportion it in the following manner: Cocksfoot 10 lbs., 
Timothy 5 lbs., Foxtail 5 lbs., Meadow Fescue 5 lbs., Tall 
Fescue 5 lbs., Crested Dogstail 2 lbs., Sheep’s Fescue 1 lb., 
Hard Fescue 1 lb., Golden Oat Grass 1 lb., Perennial Bed 
Clover 1 lb., White Dutch Clover, 1J lb., Alsike Clover 1 lb., 
Nonsuch 1^ lb., Yarrow 1 lb. As an example of the common 
ignorance which prevails about our best fodder plants we may 
mention the fact of having been asked to tell how to eradicate 
Nonsuch from pasture where it was regarded as a pest during 
the past summer. 
Very earnestly do we beg our readers to give the attention 
to this matter which its importance demands, and of which it 
is undoubtedly worthy. The limited area of permanent pas¬ 
ture upon the clergyman’s farm is all the more reason why it 
should be as good as possible. We do not advocate specula¬ 
tive or ultra scientific farming, but we certainly do urge the 
importance of closer attention to the teaching of results ob¬ 
tained by the patient and costly experiments of such men as 
Mr. C. De Laune Faunce De Laune, who has so generously 
placed at our disposal the invaluable results of years of care¬ 
ful trials in laying down land in pasture, and close observa¬ 
tion of Grasses. Experience has shown that in very many 
instances the 6eed mixtures brought into the market for per¬ 
manent pastures are worthless, and the consulting botanist o£ 
the Boyal Agricultural Society said long ago, “ I am satisfied 
that the annual loss to the country (necessarily implying a 
loss to the farmer) is very great from sowing bad Grasses and 
worthless seed of good Grasses. It would effect a great im¬ 
provement if cultivators were to discontinue using prepared 
mixtures and purchase the Grasses they propose to sow in the 
proper proportions, and mix them themselves.” 
(To be continued.) 
WORE. ON THE HOME FARM. 
Now that harvest is almost finished we have seriously to take autumn 
work in hand, and in doing this let us keep practical utility well to the 
fore. The land is dry ; the crops are cleared from the greater part of it ; 
the weather is fine—ergo, if the land is foul, clean it. Leave no stubbles 
alone till spring if you can help it; but before all things get them clean, 
and any not required for winter corn or green crops or other special 
purposes may be sown with white Mustard, to be eaten off or ploughed in 
at any time. This course is sound practice, but the advice being given 
this autumn to leave stubbles alone and let them pass through winter foul 
with weeds, because the roots will retain nitrogen in the soil, is not. By 
all means let us apply science to farming, but do let us have common 
sense with it. We are giving particular attention now to arrangements 
for sowing green crops for sheep-feeding next spring. Trifolium mcar- 
natum will be sown very soon upon clean unploughed stubbles and simply 
harrowed in. Rye comes next upm land that is ploughed and is well 
drained and fertile. Unfortunately we must sow some upon poor land, 
and shall have to give it a half dressing of artificial manure. This crop 
will be highly valuable for sheep as well as for horses, cows, and store 
cattle. Our primary object just now is to make ample provision for the 
large flock of sheep on the home faim, but we may remind every home 
farmer of the importance of an early cut of Rye for the dairy cows in any 
case, but especially if the drought has seriously affected the Cabbage 
crop. Next in order of sowing come winter Oats, for which the last week 
of the month will be soon enough ; and remember, this corn crop may be 
of great service in spring as a green crop for the sheep. It is one of the 
farmer’s safety valves, and he ought always to be able to use it for grazing 
if he wants it—if not, he has simply to leave it alone, with the pleasant 
assurance that he will have an early crop of corn ready for harvest by the 
middle of July. Let not beginners make a mistake and sow spring Oats. 
The tawny or winter Oat is very hardy, and is uninjured by cold, to which 
spring Oats frequently succumb. In October we sow winter Tares, our 
object being to get them well above the surface with a short sturdy growth 
before winter sets in, so as to have them ready for an early stroDg growth 
in spring. If sown too early they become so tall as to suffer from excessive 
cold, and the crop is either spoilt or lost outright. One sowing of winter 
Tares is obviously enough, and it is in spring and early summer that 
sowings of successional crops are made. Bearing in mind the great 
utility of winter Tares, especially in a late spring like we had this year, it 
will be well to make a careful calculation of our probable requirements, 
and let that be our guide as to the extent of land to be sown with this 
crop. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32-40'’ N.; Long. 0° 8- 0" \V.; Altitude, 111 feet 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
1885. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32« 
and Sea 
Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
a . 
0x2 
Z2 a 
or 
Temp, of 
Boil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Rain 
August'and Sept.' 
Dry. 
Wet. 
5 o 
Max. 
Min 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass 
Sunday .... 
Inches. 
30.024 
deer. 
57.8 
deg. 
49.4 
N.E. 
deg. 
58.0 
deg. 
63.8 
d*g 
46.9 
deg. 
110 9 
dea 
40.8 
In. 
Monday. 
30.072 
56.0 
51.7 
N.E. 
57.8 
59.3 
48.9 
69.7 
429 
0.045 
Tuesday. 
30.135 
58.0 
51.9 
N.E. 
56 8 
66.4 
46.3 
104.6 
39.S 
— 
Wednesday 
. 2 
29.073 
GO.0 
54.6 
S.E. 
56 6 
65.8 
43.3 
86.4 
36.6 
0.338 
Thursday ... 
. 3 
29.652 
62.6 
59.9 
S. 
57.3 
71.8 
59.0 
111.4 
55.8 
0.046 
Friday. 
29.626 
58.4 
57.6 
w. 
57.8 
70.6 
52.1 
111.2 
45.0 
0.014 
Saturday ... 
. 5 
29.589 
60.8 
56.3 
s.w. 
67.6 
71.8 
52.6 
116.3 
46.6 
0.172. 
29.867 
59.1 
54.5 
57.! 
67.1 
49.9 
101.5 
43.9 
0.615 
REMARKS. 
30th.—Generally fine, but cloudy after noon. 
31st.—Foggy early, cloudy morning, rain 10.15 A.11., and at intervals during remainder ot 
day. 
1st.—Fine, but not much bright sunshine. 
2 nd.—Fair early ; cloudy, with showers in morning; wet afternoon. 
3rd —Fine bright day. 
4th.—Wet and thick till 10 A.M.,then fine and bright,but two slight showers in afternoon 
5th.—Fine and bright, with slight showers till 2.10 I’.M., when heavy rain came on; fine 
after. 
Temperalure again slightly below the average, the nights of August 31st, September 
1st and September 1st and 2nd being ccid, almost a frost on the gra s.—G. J. STMONB* 
