440 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
November 8, 1894. 
ROUGH PASTURE. 
Under this term we include all land in grass that is left 
very much to Nature, and has no systematic cultivation. It is 
notorious that of the vast area of land gone down to grass since 
1879 a large proportion has been regarded as out of cultivation, 
has had nothing like systematic cultivation, was never prepared 
by sound tillage for the sowing of the seeds, and so has never 
proved really profitable. New laid down ” is the term used by 
farmers in reference to inferior pasture, and its effect upon the 
mind of a prospective tenant is very similar to the hoisting of a 
danger signal or storm warning. Beware! the plant is thin, 
the soil is poor, cold, wet is its meaning ; and we are bound to 
say it is true enough in many an instance under our own 
observation. When the Whittlebury estate in Northamptonshire 
came into the market, on the death of Sir Robert Loder, we 
were requested to make a careful inspection of it, and were 
delighted to find that not only had that liberal landlord supplied 
his tenants with Sutton’s Permanent Pasture mixture of seeds, 
but every acre of the farms were drained. The inspection 
of those luxuriant young ^pastures was positively refreshing 
after the miserable caric4tcure of young pasture generally 
met with. 
Well, the fact is patent to every thoughtful observer that 
there is much inferior pasture everywhere, that nothing has 
been done to reclaim it in a sound practical manner, and persons 
desirous of doing so are frequently at a loss how to proceed. 
We have given an example of successful reclamation from our 
own practice, and will now go a little more into detail. In the 
selection of seeds for pasture renovation avoid the finer Grasses, 
giving preference to those of coarser, stronger growth, as 
calculated to become established, and to thrive in the pasture. 
There can be no doubt that a I’beral proportion of Perennial Rye 
Grass and White Clover is good, the remarkable example which 
we have given from Lord Wantage’s home farm proves this. 
To them add Cocksfoot, Meadow Fescue, Tall Fescue, Timothy, 
and Meadow Foxtail ; and remember that by sowing a careful 
mixture of pure seeds of these Grasses, with a fair addition of 
Clovers in soil that was carefully prepared and subsequently 
well cultivated, pasture has been made to carry ten sheep to 
the acre, to yield hay crops of a bulk that was equally remark¬ 
able, with an aftermath of such luxuriant abundance as to 
make even a Cheshire grazier’s mouth water. The seeds should 
be sown either in the autumn or spring—say early in September 
or March, giving the pasture at the same time a sufficient 
dressing of compost, pond mud that has been exposed for a 
year or so, or other soil, so as to form a covering for the seed, 
and a hold for the young plant. If the pasture has had a 
dressing of chemical manure at the end of February, as it 
should always have, the growth of the seedlings will be strong 
enough to enable them to survive in the first season’s struggle 
with that of the established plant. Afterwards the herbage 
will thicken, there will be no more bare patches, and the growth 
will prove alike useful for hay or grazing. 
The subsequent cultivation to be regarded as indispensable 
is a full annual dressing of manure, either chemical manure 
at the end of February or sheep folding during the winter. This 
season we used a mixture of which we have already given 
the proportions for cropping generally, and which answered 
so admirably that it may usefully be given again here. It is 
one-eighth nitrate of soda, one-eighth sulphate of ammonia, 
one-eighth muriate of potash, one-eighth steamed bone flour, 
one half mineral superphosphate Applied at the ra‘e of 
4 to 5 cwt. per acre it is a complete plant food, not only 
inducing a robust early growth, but an equally vigorous after¬ 
growth, and there is a sufficient residue left in the soil to impart 
a green, healthy appearance to the herbage in winter. The 
cost per acre is from 16s. to 20s. By persistence in its use 
early vigorous growth may always be calculated upon. To 
those of our readers who have used either of our old mixtures 
so successfully, we do not advise change, but with pasture in 
good heart even they may find some benefit from a trial of this 
recipe in which nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid are so 
admirably blended. 
WOBK ON THE HOME FARM. 
The weather was so dry and warm during the first three weeks of 
October that the flock was kept on low-lying pasture much later than 
usual. As a general rule sheep are withdrawn from marsh and dale 
pasture at Michaelmas, a gain of two, three weeks longer grazing this 
year being of some importance, as the hill pastures have all the more 
herbage now. For the last fortnight the exceptionally heavy rainfall has 
induced extra care with the sheep. They are mainly on sound upland 
pasture, the exceptions being folds on Clover and White Turnips. Look 
closely after hoggets in Turnip folds, and give them a run on pasture 
daily. Give close attention also to foot rot. Withdraw every case from 
the flock for regular treatment in a close near the shepherd’s cottage or 
the homestead. See that the treatment is thorough, and let the master 
prove to his own satisfaction that the shepherd is not only competent to 
pare and dress the feet, but is gentle, and careful not to injure the hoof 
or inflict unnecessary pain. Examine the feet of the entire flock 
sufficiently often to prevent injury from pieces of stone or other sub¬ 
stance between the hoofs, or from the breaking of overgrown hoofs. 
Recently purchased sheep at the autumn fairs are being kept apart from 
the other sheep till we are satisfied they are quite sound. Scab and 
foot rot are both infectious, as dear bought experience taught us long 
ago. It has also taught us that prevention is better than cure. 
Swine fever appears to be as far as ever from being stamped out; 
fresh outbreaks of this terrible disease are of frequent occurrence, solely, 
as we believe, for want of care. It is beyond doubt that the fever is 
very generally caused by the filthy condition of the buildings and 
enclosures in which pigs are kept. Bedding and walls reek with filth, 
the pigs wallow in it, feed upon it, pack themselves in fermenting litter ; 
can we wonder that fever breaks out at farms far away from any chance 
of contagion ? Cleanliness of food, litter, floors, and walls,are the simple 
yet efficient means of prevention we have found answer. Concrete 
floors, surface drains, walls regularly lime-washed, and clean dry litter 
for bedding, all tend to keep swine healthy and comfortable. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Delicate Animals (J. Young Farmer ').—By all means keep small 
or delicate animals apart from others; an extra division or two in yards 
is easily contrived, and is quite worth while to keep them from being 
worried and driven from the food by the stronger ones. To understand 
the importance of this it is necessary to be frequently among them at 
all times of the day. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Oamden Square, London. 
Lat.Sl® 32'40" N .; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
In the Day. 
Rain. 
1894. 
October 
and 
November. 
1 Barometer 
1 at 32°, and 
1 Sea Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Inchs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
leg. 
deg. 
deer. 
deg. 
Inchs. 
Sunday .. 
28 
29 652 
49 3 
47-9 
W. 
49-9 
56-2 
471 
82-8 
44-3 
0-451 
Monday .. 
29 
29-655 
49-6 
46-8 
S. 
19-6 
56-2 
44 6 
80 3 
40-2 
0-080 
Tuesday .. 
30 
29-773 
49-0 
48-3 
s w. 
49 1 
55-0 
47-7 
56-0 
43-3 
1-34& 
Wednesday 
31 
30-043 
54 9 
54-7 
s. 
49 4 
60-2 
48-9 
76-4 
48 1 
0-010 
Thursday .. 
1 
30 036 
57 3 
53 7 
s. 
50-7 
63 9 
54-3 
98 1 
50-9 
0-085 
Friday 
2 
2 -850 
58-1 
56-2 
s. 
51-1 
60-7 
54 7 
68-2 
48-7 
0-021 
Saturday .. 
3 
29-793 
57-1 
55-0 
S.B. 
52 1 
62-6 
54-3 
88 7 
5-3 
0-090 
29 829 
53-6 
51-8 
50 3 
59 3 
50-2 
78 6 
40 5 
2083 
REMARKS. 
28th.—Bright sunshine almost throughout, and clear night, but a slight shower between 
8 P.M. and 9 P.M. 
2Gth.—Heavy rain from midnight to 1 A.M. and at 3 A-M. Bright from sunrise to 11 A.M., 
and from 1.30 P.M. to 3.30 P.M. Rain from noon to 1 P.M., between 4 and 5 p.m., 
and occasional drops later. 
30th.—Incessant rain from 6 A.M. to 4 A M. on 31st. 
31st.—Incessant rain till 4 .4..M., and frequent showers and drizzle till 10 A.M. ; fair 
after with occasional gleams of sun between 1 to 3 P.M. 
1st.—Fine and generally sunny day ; slight shower in evening. 
2ud.—Rain in small hours ; mild and damp morning; fair afternoon ; drizzle and slight? 
showers in ev ening. 
3rd.—Fine early ; a ternate gleams of sun and spots of rain in morning; clouiy after¬ 
noon with heavy lain from 4 to 4.30 P.M. 
A wet week, and an exceptionally mild one.—G. J. Symons. 
