To prepare for this latter pasture, no water should be used, if sheep must be admitted. But if they are ex cluded, the water may be sent over the meadow for two or three days, more or less, as may appear safe and ne cessary; and then the meadow left quite dry, till the grass rise, and all be ready for introducing beasts.
To get these operations performed in summer, is a great object to the judicious farmer, as the length of the day, and frequently fine weather, enable him to make this hay in the best manner. It is also, naturally better in point of sap and colour, when early made. But the only methods that can promote this object effectually, are, to enrich the lands well, and to remove all stock from them early in the season. In both these particu lars, natural meadows arc often very much neglected; receiving no manure, and being depastured till Whit sunday, no wonder the hay is late, scanty, and coarse. Well manured meadows, from which the stock is early removed, may sometimes be ready for the sithe in June, frequently in the beginning of July, and always in the course of that month. It is of consequence to have them in ricks, before the Lammas rains commence.
But I would not recommend to the farmer to cut the hay of water meadows too soon. In this case, the natu ral softness of it is increased ; it loses a greater pro portion of weight and substance in making ; and it is less nourishing (though more palatable) for beasts, as I have experienced. I am of opinion, that even rye-grass ought not to be mown for hay, till the flowers be mostly fallen; and I have found, that when cut sooner the hay loses much in weight. But the hay of watered mea dows possesses much less fibre than that of rye-grass, and ought not, perhaps, to be mown till some days after the bulk of the flowers have dropped. I except what is laid close down, and would spoil, if not mown ; and in mentioning the flowers, I would be understood to mean the flowers of those plants which constitute the bulk and weight of the hay. When most of the flowers are yet on the meadow plants at the time of mowing, the pollen bursts from the anthe•x in making, and the hay is full of dust, as if it had heated : Besides, the greener hay is when mown, the more trouble and risk there is in making it. The seeds of common poa, and of scented vernal grass, should be nearly ripe, and those of Holcus lanatus, half formed before the sidle be applied to those meadows in which these plants much abound. At this time, the seeds of most of the remaining meadow plants will hardly begin to form. But if Sprat prevail much, it should in all cases be mown before the seed knots be come perceptible. Rye-grass and clover, lose about two thirds of their weight, in drying ; meadow grasses, if thick and rich, lose more. To smooth the surface of
the meadows, it is understood, that in case of mole casts having appeared, they were all scattered; and the surface, if necessary, levelled with a roller in the end of spring. The sithe afterwards cuts clean to the bot tom, without interruption.
In making the hay of water meadows, the whole must be spread out equally to dry ; then turned lightly with rakes, and in the evening put into very small cocks. Next day it is again spread out, turned a second time with rakes, and in the evening put into larger cocks. In this form, it may safely remain for some clays. It is once more spread out, turned, and carted away to the driest spots, where it is put up in summer ricks, con taining from 20 to 30 stones each rick, of 241b. avoirdu pois, per stone. The rick is secured with four ropes; and in it the hay remains, till it is taken to the winter stack. The dimensions and form of the winter stack are frequently inconvenient. A round form does not admit of cutting away portions, without loosening the bindings ; and when the size is large, the hay is ready to heat: but fine meadow hay, early cut, is the worse for heating, although coarser hay may not suffer much injury by that process, and in some cases, may even be improved by it. There is also some danger in the heating of a vast mass of hay all at once, as it may rot, or take fire. 'file stack ought to be of a rectangular form, ten or twelve feet wide, and of any length, placed 11itic (Inc. end towards the north, and the other towards the south. In manner the heat of the sun does not heat on either side, more than another, and the stack does not incline to lean from that circumstance. ow ncr begins to cm down any portions he thinks proper On the north end of the stack ; and lie may do so without loosening any of the ropes except the bosom rope, which is easily lixed again. A stack of this moderate breadth does not heat, the hay retains its colour and juices, and even the seed remains sound on the grasses. And if only ten feet wide, thirt\ feet long, and nine feet high when built, reckoning from the ground to the eaves, exclusive of the head, and th, whole properly tramped and drawn, such a stack should contain about five hundred stones of 24 lbs. each. The stacks ought to stand parallel to each other, at least ten feet asunder, to allow laden carts to back in betweei, them, and also to admit a tree circulation of air in evert direction; and the bottoms ought to be all laid with stones. I have experience of the convenience of eve:') part of these arrangements.