On the IlIczhocl of consuming cut Grass Clover and rye-grass, sown for a cutting crop, may he used in various ways: 1. As green food for the work ing stock. 2.. For fattening the cattle, either put up to the stake, or kept in a court or larm-yard. S. For hay. On each of these points we shall say a few words.
1. As green food for the working stock, clover and rye-grass rn"v be used with great advantage, when in a succulent state ; and when cut fresh, and furnished re gularly, the animals will thrive equally well as if allowed to roam at large, while at least one-half less ground is required to support them in the former case than in the latter. Besides, horses kept in this way are always at hand, and ready for service. They are not injured, as in the field, by galloping about and kicking at each other ; nor is their dung lost, as it is in a great measure when the field is &pastured ; but it is preserved in a moist heap, the straw used fur later being saturated with the water, which, w hen on this lood, they make in great quantities. Indeed, the practice of soiling horses is now so firmly established in all well cultivated dis tricts, that to say more in support of it would be altoge ther unnecessary.
2. The next way of using clover and rye-grass cut by the sit he, is to feed cattle upon the grass by tying them up in a shade, or allowing them to run at large in a farm-yard. This is a practice of more date than that of feeding horses, though, by analogy, it limy be inferred, that if this mode of feeding answers in the one case, it will do equally well in the other. It is ob vious, that any quantity of grass may be consumed in this way, to the great benefit of the corn farmer, who generally stands in need of more dung than can be ac cumulated Iron the straw of his corn crops ; and it is plain, that in no other way can a greater quantity of dung be collected, than where this method is adopted, whilst, at the same time, it is of superior quality to every other kind, that from turnip cattle excepted. The practice, to be sure, is attended with some degree of trouble ; but this objection will not be urged against its utility by any real husbandman ; for, as man must live by the sweat of his brow, the best management necessarily includes the greatest portion of trouble, and, vice versa, slovenly and imperfect management is most easily exe cuted.
But as experience and practice, in all such cases, are the best guides, we shall offer to the consideration of our readers the result of a trial made at Markle, in county of Iladdington, to ascertain the advantages of home-feeding in the summer months, which seems to be decisive in favour of the practice of using grass in the hum-yard, instead of depasturing it with cattle, re cording to the ordinary method. This mode of feeding has been regular!) continued since the experiment was made, and th,- advantages have been so extensive as to justify its continuance.
r Brow n, tenant of that farm, having- purchased, in October 180.1, at Falkirk tryst, 4S Aberdeenshire stots, mostly or a full ag,e, whirl were wintered in the farm yard, divided then], on the •1th of May 1805, into two lots, when one lot was put to grass, and the other into the farm-yard, re they got a tasting or ruta baga in addition to their u•aial fare of straw, till the clover field was fit for cutting, Ilefiwe the division, a few turnips had been given to of the best and largest cattle in a separate court ; but, as that parcel was equally divided previous to the remaining IS being examined, thc re sult is not thereby affe ctcd, especially as the turnips and ruta baga are charged against the clover-led cattle in the after statement.
On the 1st of June clover was given to the cattle in troughs and cribs ; though, for a iv, ck at least, to save danger, the quantity gis en was much less than could have consumed. 1 tier that time, a full supply was allowed, and the offal or waste furnished main tenance for a large parcel of swine of different ages. Till the grass got irird and withered, the cattle in gen eral, after the first fortnight, throve amazingly well, par ticularly those who had got a few turnips in March and April. Exceptions there were, even amongst them ; for the strongest and boldest cattle generally took posses sion of the cribs, and would not resign them till their ap petite was satisfied. This evil must necessarily happen a here any onsiderobik number are kept together, and an only be avoided by having several courts or feeding places, and selecting the cattle for each, according to their size and disposition.