SPLENIC APOPLEXY. 
533 
Oynosurus cristatus (crested dogtail.) 
Bromus mollis (soft brome or lop.) 
Bactylis glomerata (cocksfoot.) 
Festuca duriuscida (hard fescue.) 
Loliumperenne nearly absent. 
Clovers only in very small quantity, and I think the pre¬ 
vailing species is Trifolium fragiferum (strawberry-headed 
trefoil) a denizen of lumpy clays, often mistaken for the 
Dutch clover. Upon this point, however, I am not certain, 
as I could not find a specimen in flower. 
From these observations on the tart lands which came 
under my notice, I am induced to conclude that they are 
poor, cold, “ hungry clays/' They want draining as much 
to let the air into the soil as to get the water through and out of 
it ] after which, liberal manuring will be found to act, though 
now I am told these lands are not manured, as they are said 
“ not to be grateful for it/' 
Since the above notes were penned, I have seen a paper 
by Prof. Voelcker on the ‘Tart Lands of Central Somerset,' 
from which I take the liberty of quoting a concluding note 
of Lord Portman : 
“J am of opinion," writes his lordship, “ from what I 
have tried and observed on the “ tart" lands of Pylle, where, 
I regret, Professor Voelcker has not made an inspection, 
that the plough is the true remedy, and all (C tart lands" should 
be converted into arable lands. The clover-hay, the pasture 
on the clover-lea, and the roots fed by sheep on such land 
have no scouring properties; and, after a fair trial of some 
bad scouring lands, I have advised my tenant to break up 
and cultivate several scouring fields, which will, as I believe, 
be profitable instead of noxious land."—Lord Portman in the 
‘ Bath arid West of England Agricultural Journal / 
I would remark that this is an opinion clearly borne out 
by the botany of the (i tart lands," near Ilchester. Arable 
cultivation, however, would be very imperfect if not preceded 
by draining, and these would then be strong yielding lands 
with the usual manuring in the different rotations. So tho¬ 
roughly am I convinced, that if found desirable to retain 
them as pasture, they may be made to yield good herbage of 
a wholesome kind as the result of cultivation. The more 
meadows of this kind are cultivated, the less frequent will 
become the poorer grasses, which yield pasturage and hay 
with what the farmers call ‘‘no proof," in it, while the better 
kinds at the same time will gain a complete ascendancy. 
The meadows next to be described are those in which 
have occurred cases of " splenic apoplexy." 
