The second year after planting, full-sized poles, froth 15 to 20 feet in length, according to the strength or the land, which cost from 16s. to 36s. per hundred, are pla ced to the hills instead of the seconds, which ale re moved to younger grounds. Here great care is neces sary not to overpolc, for by that means young grounds ate often much weakened ; and it is equally so not to over-dung them, as that will make theni mouldy. Fifty cart-loads of well rotted farm yard dung and mould, once in three years, are generally esteemed sell cieht lor an acre OI land.
Productions.—There can be no certain report made of the produce of the hop plantations ; because, in some years, the growth is less than two hundrcd weight per acre, and in others it is fourteen or Illteen ; tf et average may be seven or eight.
On GRASS 11CSB ‘NDRA.
If the introduction of turnips occasioned a revolution in the rural art of Britain, that of artificial grasses pro duced a change of no less importance at an earlier pe riod. It is difficult to fix upon the time, when clover, and other artificial grasses, were introduced into this isl and ; though it may reasonably be inferred, that the pe riod was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when the nation had almost a constant and regular intercourse with Holland, and the provinces of the Netherlands ; at least. we are certain, that, during the Protectorate, when Blythe published his treatise on agriculture, artificial grasses were well known in England. Many years, however, elapsed before they travelled northward to Scotland, such articles being hardly known by the husbandman of that country when the two nations were united into one em pire ; nay, it is not more than forty years since they came to be generally used ; though, at this time, they are sown in greater quantities by the farmers of Scotland than by those in the neighbouring country.
It is not difficult to account for the predilection of Scottish farmers for artificial grasses. The alternate husbandry is more sedulously followed out by them, than by the great body of farmers in England. Compara tively speaking, there is a small quantity of old pas ture or meadow land in Scotland ; whereas, in England, immense tracts of old grass are to be found almost in every district. Besides, the soil and climate of Scot land require, that grasses be often renovated, otherwise the produce, in most cases, is regularly lessened, in pro portion to the age of the particular grasses cultivated. These things duly considered will account for the strong predilection shown by Scottish farmers for ar tificial grasses, and why alternate husbandry is more assiduously exercised by them than by the English hus bandman.
On Grasses for Cutting.
We are unacquainted with any variety of grass, that will yield a greater return to the farmer, when cut by the lithe, than broad or red clover mixed with a small quan tity of rye-grass. The first mentioned may be regard
eel, in most cases, as the parent which produces the crop, and the other only III the light of an assistant, or nurse, which serves to tram up the crop to maturity, and to protect it Irom rude blasts and inclement storms. Fine soils alone arc calculated to produce a heavy crop of grass, when clover is only used as the seed plant ; but w hell a small quantity of rye-grass is sow n along with the clover, it is wonderful what weight of crop may be obtained, even from inferior soils, when the seeds arc sown at a proper season, on laud in good order and condition. Sonic people make a greater mixture, and add a portion of white and yellow clover ; but the addi tion is unnecessary, when a cutting crop only is meant to be taken ; and we are convinced, that grass cut in one year ought to be ploughed in the next, otherwise a crop of inferior value will certainly be obtained. Laying this down therefore as a fixed rule, we consider sixteen pounds weight of red or broad clover, and two pecks of rve-grass seed, as a full allowance fur a Scottish acre of ground, which, as already stated, is one-fifth larger than English statute measure. The seeds, to ensure a good crop of grass, ought always to be sown with a fallow crop; and, if with winter wheat, great care ought to be used to cover then, properly, even though the welfare of the wheat should be hazarded by the harrowing pro cess; if with spring wheat or barley, the grass seeds should be sown at the same time with these crops, none of which ought to be thickly seeded, so that the grasses may not be smothered or destroyed. Unless in very favourable seasons, and when the grass has grown to a great length at harvest, neither sheep nor cattle ought to be allowed to set a foot upon the stubbles; and next spring the ground should be carefully stoned, and after wards rolled, so that the sithe may run smoothly upon the surface, and cut the crop as close as possible. The closer the first crop is cut, so much faster will the se cond one rush up. and so much thicker will the roots set out fresh stems, and thus produce a weighty after math. To cut the aftermath with the sithe is also the most profitable way of using it ; because a great quan tity of food is thereby provided for live-stock, and a large increase made to the dung-hill. It must be remembered, however, that, alter these cuttings, it is necessary to plough the land again ; because the roots of the plants will rot in the succeeding winter, at least many of them la ill do so, and, of course, a small crop of grass will afterwards be obtained, whether the sithe is used again, or pasturing resorted to.