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drops, the plant is nourifhed wholly from the 

 roots, which impoverilhes the land. This, though 

 not lefs certain than the former, is in general 

 little attended to by the farmer; indeed moft of 

 them act in direct repugnancy to it, for it is a 

 maxim almoft univerfaily received, that the largefl 

 crop of every kind is the bed. Therefore in hay 

 and fodder, quantity in general is preferred to qua- 

 lity. Often the former has fo much the preference 

 of the latter, that the dclire of a large crop pro- 

 craftinates the cutting till the hay is fpoiled, and 

 in fact the whole crop loft ; for it too often hap-, 

 pens that it is not worth the expence. 



What Mr. Tulj. aflerted of what he called his 

 virgin-hay, (fpeaking of fainfoin) may with equal 

 truth be faid of all kinds of grafs whatever; every 

 J pedes of which, whether natural or artificial, 

 intended for fodder, is in the higheft degree of 

 perfection for that purpofe when the plants are in 

 bloom. They then contain all the virtues of the 

 plant in its higheft perfection; and one load cut 

 at that feafon, if well cured, is worth more than 

 two that ftand till the Mowers are dropped, the 

 bottom turned yellow, and dying, which in that 

 cafe contracts a rank difagreeable fmell that can 

 never be entirely removed in the curing. And 

 if in that ftatc bad weather Ihould happen, the 



fecdi 



