Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/372

350] PAS veiling the surface with a heavy wooden rollet, in the month ot Februaiy or March, tiuring moist •weather 3 in consequence of which, the grass will vegetate more luxu^ riantly, and the growth of weeds will be counterafted. In laying down land (at pasture, the greatest attention is requisite in the selection of seeds : the best for this purpose are, the finest up- Jand hay-seeds, and the White or Dutch Clover. If the former be sifted from all extraneous sub- stances, three bushels will be fully sufficient for an acre of land : of the latter, eight pounds will be ne- cessary, which ought to be sown after the hay -seeds ; because the clover, being considerably heavier than these, will otherwise sink to the bottom ; and its distribution in the ground will be irregular. When the first grass a;)pears, all weeds must be speedily eradicated ; as they will otherwise impede its growth ; and, if suffered to stand till they shed their seed, the land will be so completely ovei- run, that the herbage will be totally suppressed. Various methods are praftised with a view to enrich pastures, and to promote the growth of the grass. Among these, rolling the ground two or three times, at proper inter- vals, during the spring, has been found very beneficinl ; for it com- presses the grass, which thus ac- quires a thicker hot torn : and the clover striking roots from every branch in coiitaft with tiie ground, they will be matted so closely toge- ther, as to form a beautiful thick sward, that will cover the whole surface of the land, and flourish during the severest droughts, — Some graziers turn a few sheep.and one ortWQCoUs, into each pasturcj PAS which praftice is very successful ; for the sheep eat down and destroy the rag-wort (SeJiecio Jacohcea, L.) Avhich vitiates many of our best pastures, where oxen only are fed. New pasture-land may be ad- vantageously stocked with sheep j because those animals will par- tially check the luxuriance of the grass ; in consequence of which the latter will unite, or mat, at the bottom ; and thus produce a tender herbage for cattle. — Pastures may likewise be materially improved, by alternately mowing and feeding otT the crops. In the counties of Cardigan and York, an excellent pra6lice pre- vails, which, if it were more gene- rally known, would be the means of ameliorating poor or indifferent pasture-grounds. The farmers put up such lands as early as possible in the month of May, for the summer season ; during which they pay no other attention, than to eradicate docks, to destroy thistles, &c. In this state, the ground remains till December, when all the stock is turned in, and every animal will be in excellent condition, without the aid of hay, straw, or oats ; while the milk, or butter, in all respe6fs becomes equal to that produced at anv other period of the year. The grass is sweetened by the frost, and remains uninjured by the snow ; but, v.'hile the latter covers the ground, it will be necessary to re- sort to dry food. In the spring, young shoots of grass will burst forth beneath the shelter of the old ones, and both are eaten with avi- dity. By this praftice, land for- merly infested with moss, in conse- quence of its having been over- stocked and grazed too bare, will soon be covered with palatable her- bage ; and the moss disappear wJlhout