CHEMICO-AGRICULTURAL TOUR. 135 



over the tank. The sheep, being put into the water, were moved 

 about under these shoots by means of long poles, having cross 

 pieces of wood attached to their extremities to prevent the sheep 

 from moving away when placed under the stream of water, and 

 enabling those washing them readily to draw them to the side of 

 the tank, and remove them from the water when sufficiently 

 washed, which was readily accomplished by this arrangement. 



The ground connected with this institution appeared to be of 

 good quality, and amongst the crops which are cultivated there is 

 maize, which is grown in considerable quantity as a forage plant. 

 For this purpose it is sown either in drills about twenty inches 

 apart, or is broadcast. When it has grown about two feet high, 

 it is mown and given to the cattle either in its green state, or after 

 being previously made into hay. It is again cut a second time, 

 later in the season. A good deal of maize is grown for the same 

 purpose in the central part of France, and in the north of Germany 

 where the climate is too cold for its being successfully cultivated 

 as a grain crop. It is sown at different periods, but I believe the 

 usual time is about the latter end of April, or in the beginning of 

 May ; when then sown, it is fit for cutting the latter end of Au- 

 gust or early in September. Cultivated for this purpose, it yields 

 a very large quantity of highly nutritious food, which is admirably 

 adapted for the fodder of almost every kind of cattle, at a time of the 

 year when the heat and dryness of the season, prevent the growth of 

 other green crops. It therefore appears to me highly desirable 

 that our agriculturists should endeavor to introduce the cultivation 

 of so useful a plant amongst our usual green crops. 



A curious system of rotation is adopted on one part of the 

 farm attached to the College, for the purpose of obtaining from the 

 ground the greatest possible amount of food for their cattle ; it is 

 as follows : 



1st year, Jerusalem artichokes, the ground being manured. 

 2nd " Jerusalem artichokes. 

 3rd " Vetches, sown together with trefoil.' 

 4th " Trefoil, giving two cuttings. 

 5th " Trefoil, mowed once, and then pastured. 



The manner in which they plant the potato there is difierent 

 from what is generally adopted with us ; for they dibble the seed 

 in holes, which are measured with a stick, at certain distances 

 apart. And when thus planted, as they come up, they have a 



