One observation occurs, with which these remarks shall be concluded. Cattle, intended for home-fecding, should be in decent condition when grass is first given them ; for, if otherwise, the best part of the season, namely, the month of June, when grass is richest, is over before much alteration can be discovered. It would also be a desirable circumstance to have the main part ready for the butcher by the time that the first crop of grass becomes hard and unpalatable ; for though tares are an excellent succedaneum, yet, considering the dif ference of produce on a given spot, they are more ex pensive food ; and the second crop of clover contains much less feeding matter, even from the same bulk, than is yielded from the first one.
3. To convert clover and rye-grass into hay, or dry fodder, for winter consumption, is another way in which these grasses may be profitably used. It is well known, that, in common seasons, the process of winning clover and rye-grass, and making them into excellent hay, is a very simple matter, and that with no other grasses can the hay process be so easily or speedily executed. To cut the plants a little quick, is obviously the best method of procuring good hay, and likewise of the most advan tage to the ground ; because the plants, not having per fected their seeds, extract from the ground much less of its strength or substance than would undoubtedly be drawn out, were they suffered to stand till they arrived at maturity. Clover and rye-grass arc great improvers of the soil, when cut at an early period of the season; but if allowed to occupy the ground till their seeds are fully ripened, a different character must he bestowed. In fact, improvement from these varieties of grass is regulated entirely by the time of their cutting; and as it is early or late in the season when the cutting process is performed, so will the advantage to be de rived from these grasses fall to be ascertained. 'cVe here speak of the soil, not of the weight of the crop which may be reaped from it ; though, when the first crop is late, or stands long uncut, the second is rarely of much value.
Grass, when cut for hay, ought to be quickly raked, in order that its pov,ers may neither be exhausted by the sun, nor dissipated by the air. In the first stage, small cocks are preferable ; and on alter days, these may be gathered into larger ones, or hand -lie ks, by which me thod the liay is equally made, and properly sweeted. After standing eight or ten days in these ricks, accord ing to the nature or the weather, hay !tiny be carted home, and built in stacks of sufficient size for standing through the %rimer months. In ordinary weather, the
processes of preparing hay and bringing it into good condition are easily executed, though in had weather few branches of rural economy are attended with more vexation, or performed with more difficulty. 1f this is the case with lover and rye-grass, the hazard and trou ble are ten times gloater u hen natural or meadow grasses are made into haw. In a wet season, these arc rarely preserved in a healthy condition ; and in the very best, much more attention and work are required, than when artificial grasses are to be harvested.
Of Grass, when consumed by Live Stock.
Pasturage is the ancient and common method of con suming grass ; and as many soils do not yield crops which can be consumed in any other way, it oh\ iously must continue to be followed as the bust way in which live stock can in general rases be fed or supported. Wc are decided advocates for the soiling system, in certain situations, but not so bigoted as to contend for the use of that system upon every soil, and in every situation; because natural impediments arc often in the way, which render the system unprofitable and inexpedient. Upon certain soils, and in particular situations, pasturage must be adopted, because the grasses raised are unfit for the sidle, and will not defray the trouble and expense of ga thering them together, preparatory to being used in home feeding.
This is the case with many of the upland districts, and with thin soils, wherever they arc situated. To land under these circumstances, the preceding observa tions are confined ; but there arc many fields of old grass in the richest districts, where cutting by the sithe cannot be recommended. It is, however, a very com mon practice in England to hay such fields, though no doubt can be entertained concerning the impropriety of the practice. The soil is not only robbed thereby of its powers, but the roots of the plants arc exposed to destruction in the subsequent winter season. In a word haying and pasturing of land arc practices dia metrically at variance with each other ; and the sithe ought never to enter a pasture field, unless it be to cut weeds. Were artificial grasses sown in the districts where hay is taken on old pasture lands, there would not be the slightest necessity for cutting them with the sithe ; but as one defect generally causes another, so the neglect of artificial grasses is the real cause why the old pastures are so grossly mismanaged, in order that the first omission may in some measure be recti fied and supplied.