SECRETARY'S REPORT. ^^^ 



there ought to be none others,) there is usually a tolerable second 

 growth -which may in many cases be used as pasturage to quite as 

 good advantage as to cut and store, or if not sufficient for a crop to 

 be harvested, to be left unfed with the view to enriching the land 

 by its decay or to protecting the roots during winter. The manure 

 left by the feeding animals will increase the future product more 

 than would the decay of the grass, and as for protection, if not fed 

 too close, our usual winter's snow is quite sufficient. Turning in 

 cattle upon poor meadows, or those yielding less than a ton per acre, 

 and this as soon as the crop is removed, cannot fail to be injurious. 



As indicating the opinions of some practical farmers, I append 

 the following replies to a question on this topic : 



From Hiram Russ, Farmington". 

 " Feeding mowing lands in the fall, I consider the greatest injur j 

 imaginable, in this cold climate. It leaves the ground bare, and 

 cold winters kill the roots." 



From Samuel Butmax, Plymouth. 



" I feed off the after growth of my mowing lands partially, where 

 there is much of it, in preference to cutting a second crop. Am 

 not in favor of cutting a second crop, except on locations particu- 

 larly adapted to the growth of grass. I consider close feeding on 

 grass lands generally, as destructive to subsequent crops." 



From Joseph Frost, Elliot. 

 " We do not consider it any injury to put cattle to eat off the 

 after growth of grass, if put on at the middle of October, and not 

 fed too close. Consider it very injurious to put cattle on as soon 

 as the hay crop is taken off. 



' 7> 



From George II. Andrews, Moxmouth. 



" When there is a burden of second crop, it wull do to feed it off 

 partially, but nothing is more injurious than to feed off in the fall, 

 what may have sprung up after haying. Our best farmers are well 

 satisfied on this point and are abandoning the practice." 



From E. R. French, Chesterville. 

 " With regard to feeding meadows in the fall, I am not fully set- 

 tled in my own opinion. It has always been our practice to feed 

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