( 94 ] 



nine miles from Salilbury, in a meadow belonging 

 to Lord Rivers, now in the occupation of Farmer 

 Hay ward. This meadow, being fituated on a fmall 

 brook, is frequendy overflowed, and foi-netimes 

 continues fo a great part of the winter. It bears 

 the greateft burthen in a wet feafon. 



When I was there, it was too early in the fpring 

 to make any particular obfervation on the blade, 

 but the Farmer's account is as follows, viz. * that 



* it generally grows to the height of about eighteen 

 ' inches, and then falls and runs along the ground 



* in knots, to the length of fixteen or eighteen feet, 



* but that he has known inflances of its running to 

 » the length of twenty-five feet.' 



The meadow contains about two acres and a 

 half. It is mowed twice in a feafon, and the ave- 

 rage quantity is generally about twelve loads (tons) 

 of hay the firft mowing, and fix the fecond ; though 

 fometimes confiderably more. The tithe of the 

 meadow has been compounded for at nine pounds 

 a year.* 



The 



• This account appeared to us fo lingular, and the crop of grafs fo 

 very extraordinary, that oUr Secretary went to Orchefton, to examint 

 more particularly into it. The farmer, and divers other perfons in 

 the village, confirmed the account contained in this letter, of its ama- 

 rmg produce rn furafncrs when the meadow had been overflowed in the 

 prQceding winter and fpring ; but when the winter had been dry, and . 



the 



