ful, though rather tedious, voyage of twenty-six days to Liverpool. The gallant ship in which I spent three pleasant weeks, was, in her second voyage thereafter, totally wrecked upon the American coast. Sure I am, that neither the skill and vigilance of her captain, nor her own sailing powers, could have failed, for both were of the first order.

But I must bring these notes to a conclusion, conscious that my drafts upon these pages have far exceeded any reasonable indulgence, and taking shame for such a constant repetition of the first personal pronoun in what I have had to offer on my

tour.

ON CONVERTING CLAY LAND INTO PERMANENT PASTURE. By Mr G. SINCLAIR, Newcross, Surrey.

(To the Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture.)

IN submitting to your readers a short account of the results of a trial to reconvert to improved permanent pasture, a field of 28 acres of very heavy tenacious clayey soil, I need not occupy the time, nor the valuable space of your pages, in discussing the principles of practice. A careful selection of the seeds of the different species of grasses adapted to the nature of the soil; or changing the nature of the soil, by draining, irrigating, paring and burning, or rotting the coarse herbage by ploughing it in, or collecting it after the paring plough into heaps, until decomposed; the application of lime, chalk, clay, marl, sand, or animal and vegetable manures as circumstances may require, so as to suit the permanent growth of the superior pasture grasses; sowing the seeds of these in the exact proportions that will ensure their permanency, careful preparation of the soil for the reception of the seeds,-effective sowing in the most proper season, and judicious after management,-by all which such description of land as that now mentioned, and which is one of the most difficult to cultivate and to cover with a permanent pasture of the best quality, may be returned to that state, with a sward equal, or rapidly approaching, to any pasture on a soil of similar pro

perties, in the space of two seasons;-because these principles of practice, in the important branch of husbandry in question, have been now improved on almost every description of soil and site. I trust the following details may induce some of those gentlemen who have put the new practice in this branch of husbandry to the test of trial, to communicate an account of the result to the public, which would doubtless be of great use, inasmuch as the culture of the superior nutritive grasses, or the making a new permanent pasture in one or two seasons equally, or nearly approaching to that of an old meadow, on a soil of the same quality, requires quite as much care and attention in the essential particulars of culture, as do those in the culture of wheat, turnips, or any other of the more valuable farm crops ;such as, selecting the best variety or breed of the kind of plant adapted to the soil, genuine seeds, careful preparation of the soil for the reception of the seed, judicious and seasonable sowing, and after culture. But as we know that the best variety or kind of crop, or species of plant, and quality of seed, aided by the most skilful culture, will not always secure a crop of wheat or turnips; so neither is the culture of the permanent pasture grasses exempt from the same law in the economy of vegetable life. The fact is, that the agents which govern and influence the growth of plants from the period the seed is deposited in the ground, until the time the crop is reaped, are numerous and varied in their effects, according to local circumstances, as well as their being for the most part out of the control of the cultivator. Clear or hot sunshine may be highly beneficial on certain soils at a particular period of the progress of a crop, and on another and different soil it may be equally injurious. Moist or damp weather varies likewise in its beneficial effects, or the reverse, according to local circumstances of soil and site. The difference of even half an inch in the quantity of rain that may fall in the course of a season, will have a very decided effect in increasing or lessening the weight of produce, or success of crops, differently situated as to soil and local climate, although they shall be of the like species, and be in every other respect under exactly similar circumstances. Facts, therefore, obtained with a due regard to the comparative influence of those agents which control the growth and progress of a crop, may be term

ed invaluable; as they cannot mislead in practice when applied as a guide in the culture of such crops, on soils and sites, agreeing in nature and properties with that from which these facts. were obtained; but I fear I have dwelt too long on these preliminary points, and will proceed to the subject matter of this letter.

The field, as already stated, consists of 28 acres, of a strong tenacious clay, lying low, and with little declivity. It forms a part of Blackrock farm, a few miles distant from Aylesbury, Bucks, and belongs to W. Rickford, Esq., M. P. In 1825, this gentleman, who is well acquainted with the different species and properties of the permanent pasture grasses, had the soil of this field well cleaned, prepared and worked into as fine a tilth as the unfavourable nature of the soil for this process of culture would permit. The field having become much exhausted or reduced in fertility, by continuance under the plough, this defect was corrected to the extent required, by a supply of manure of farm-yard dung, coal ashes, &c. Seeds of the following species of the essential permanent pasture grasses were selected with care, and forwarded to Blackrock farm in the beginning of August, viz., meadow-foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), meadow-fescue (Festuca pratensis), meadow catstail (Phleum pratense), rough-stalked meadow-grass (Poa trivialis), crested dogstail (Cynosurus cristatus), white clover (Trifolium repens), and cow grass (Trifolium pratense perenne). The seeds were sown on a fine tilth, with great attention as to having all the different species intimately mixed, so that, if possible, two individual plants of the same species should not grow up without an intervening plant of another and different species. The seeds were slightly, but carefully covered by the short-toothed harrow, so as to protect them from birds and from being exposed to the sun and wind, by the action of rain. The vegetation of the seeds succeeded as satisfactorily as the circumstances of the season allowed. The weather of the season of winter had here in this instance the effect it always has, more or less, on seedling plants, or those sown in autumn, in a soil of the nature now alluded to, that of thinning out the young plants of clover and several of the essential natural grasses. To make up these deficiencies, a top-dressing was given in the following spring, and

a few more of the seeds were sown upon it. The pasture soon became fit to receive stock, and was depastured with dairy cows. The pasture proved so satisfactory, that after four years' experience of its produce, nutritive qualities, and permanency, Mr Rickford was induced to reconvert to improved permanent pasture another field from tillage, the nature of the soil of which, and its disposition, were similiar to the former, in fact it adjoined it. In selecting the different species of grasses for this field, Mr Rickford added to the number by giving cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and the best improved perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne var.), which proved to be an improvement in every repect. The proportions in which the different species were combined, were in the order in which the grasses stand in the list named, the meadow-foxtail being in the largest proportion. The quantity sown upon an acre of these combined seeds was 4 bushels and 1 peck. The preparation of the soil of this field for the reception of the seeds, and the mode of culture adopted, were precisely the same as in the former, but the time of sowing was different. Those who have had experience in cultivating low and flat, being tenacious clay, will appreciate the difficulty of getting such even moderately clean and into a fine tilth at any particular or stated time of the spring. In consequence of this, and unfavourable weather, the seeds were not sown until the beginning of summer; they vegetated freely, but from the immense quantity of charlock (the field mustard) that came up at the same time with the seedling grasses, they were in danger of being overwhelmed entirely. Mr Rickford adopted the very best mode of overcoming the difficulty, that of hand-weeding. I had the pleasure to witness the process; it was let to a labourer to weed at 12s. per acre, and, with the assistance of children only, the work was executed in the most perfect manner*. The grasses now succeeded satisfactorily, and the pasture was applied to the same purpose as that of the former field, namely dairy cows. In the space of two seasons from sowing, the grasses of these two fields respectively were equal to any old pasture on a similar quality of soil. It is true they cost much labour and skill in

Blackrock farm consists of 350 acres of land, well adapted to the wheat and bean culture and dairy; it has been put into excellent condition by the worthy proprietor.

their appropriation, and, comparatively to the old mode of sowing down to permanent pasture, much expense; but what crop of any kind can be successfully obtained without a measure and a full one of these?

In my next communication (should this be approved), I purpose to submit to your readers a statement of facts relative to the conversion to improved permanent pasture, of a soil of a perfectly opposite nature to that of Mr Rickford, namely, a thin sandy heath soil incumbent on gravel, the natural produce of which consists of Agrostis vulgaris, tenuifolia (slender-leaved bent), Agrostis fascicularis (tufted-leaved bent), Festuca ovina (sheep's-fescue), Aira præcox (early annual hair-grass), Lolium perenne tenue (slender-leaved ryegrass), Plantago coronopus (stagshorn plantain), Sagina erecta (upright pearlwort), Apargia hirta (hairy hawkbit), and on the margins of the footpaths here and there patches of white clover. The facts that shall then be brought forward will bear directly on the question how far the nutritive and more productive grasses can be introduced, and permanently established, on a soil in which they do not naturally grow.

ON BARN MANAGEMENT.

AT page 58. of this volume of the Journal, we gave an account, accompanied with a figure, of an excellent construction of a winnowing machine. That figure was not an imaginary one. It was taken exactly, in all its dimensions, from a machine which had been constructed with great care, and which had been in use for about ten years. During that time, it executed its work satisfactorily to buyer and seller; and, what was of equal importance, it executed the superior workmanship with little trouble to the workman. Indeed, a woman could have driven it with ease day after day. Such a machine could be made for £5, a sum which any one in need of a good winnowing machine would not grudge to pay. The figure given is constructed on a regular scale, so as to form a working plan to any implementmaker. It is our intention, in this paper, to give directions for using the winnowing-machine in a proper manner, which will