752 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK ^ 



Average weight of first crop, gathered in June, 1856 ... .25 tons. 

 Second, or aftermath, gathered first week in Sept., 1856, .I2 " 



4 tons, = £l(j 

 Pasturage from March to April, and in October and November, 15 



Gross produce of one acre of grass land, £17 5 



Estimating 1 ton of hay as equal to 6 tons of Swedish turnips, 

 this produce of natural grass does not compare unfavorably with 

 a root crop. One ton of well-gotten hay is, however, superior to 

 6 tons of Swedes, on account of its greater quantity of oil, which 

 is, without doubt, one of the most valuable elements of food. 



The meadows on which this produce is grown, are on strong 

 clay, which, before draining, yielded but a scanty herbage, inter- 

 spersed with rushes, and but a light crop of hay late in July. 



The following is my treatment of my permanent pastures, 

 which are heavily stocked during the summer season. The home 

 pasture, of barely 15 acres, carries my 20 milk cows during the 

 day. They are housed during the night. This clearing the 

 pastures by night, has in some degree the effect of a change of 

 pasture, and prevents their lying so much on the grass they eat. 

 In addition to the 20 milk cows, 20 ewes, with their lambs, graze 

 and fatten on this home pasture of 15 acres. These ewes are 

 supplied with J lb. of rape cake each per day. It will be ob- 

 served, that the dung from the cows is likewise enriched by the 

 extra food given to the cows in stall. Several times during the 

 season, a laborer is sent round the pasture to spread about the 

 dung : for this operation I prefer wet weather. My other 

 pastures are also rich feeding pastures, and carry a beast, and an 

 ewe, with her lambs, per acre. During July and August, the 

 coarse tufts of grass in the pastures are mown and carried home 

 for fodder for my horses. I prefer this pasture grass lor horses 

 to that from aftermath, which is too relaxing. These pasture 

 mowings more than suffice for the bulky food for four or five 

 horses during July and August. The surplus is partly eaten by 

 the cattle, the remainder being converted into hay, and mixed 

 with cut straw for steaming. After this mowing of the tufts, the 

 pastures assume the appearance of aftermath, and the animals 

 graze with appetite over the whole. Late in autumn and early 

 in spring, the ewes are continued on these pastures, which they 



