432 On Soils proper yhr Rearing ^heep. Nor 



the latter end of May, and is fit for pafture from that time to 

 September. 



There is alfo another fpeclcs of grafs called fword-grafs^ pecu- 

 liar to a m.ofs foil, and of a more nutritive nature than any of the 

 former, but is rarely found in the fouth of Scotland, tliough a- 

 bounding in many parts of the Highlands. It fprings and decays 

 much about the fame time as deer-hair. The root fpreads and 

 divides itfelf into different branches, from each of which, at cer- 

 tain periods, four leaves or piles generally fpring. Thefe leaves 

 are about five inches long and one- eighth broad, refembling thofe 

 of pry^ an evergreen peculiar to bogs. This fimilarity, however, 

 lafts only for about three months, after which the former become 

 yellow and decay, while the latter retain all their native vigour. 

 As this plant is juicy and palatable, fheep are very fond of it, 

 though it can be confidered as an article of food only for the 

 above mentioned period. 



Having ah-eady noticed the modes of improvement which I 

 conceive to be belt adapted to each of the above mentioned plants, 

 it remains only, upon this part of the fubje£l:, to make one or 

 two general obfervations, applicable to them all. 



The firfl and principal improvement, then, which I would^ re- 

 Com.mend, is frequent burning. This ought to be done early in 

 April, or rather in March, if the weather will allow ; for when 

 the operation is deferred till the feafon is far advanced, the young 

 flem, being confiderably above ground, is rather fcorched than 

 burnt, and thereby rendered unfit for food. The advantage refult-» 

 ing from this pradice, to white bent, flying bent, ling, and deer- 

 hair, may be viewed as very confiderable ; it being uniformly 

 found that thefe plants maintain molt ftock the feafon in which 

 they have been burnt. With refpeft to ftool-bent, however, it 

 is doubtful if burning can be performed in fuch a way as to prove 

 beneficial. This plant being perennial, confequently always green, 

 is rather fcorched than burnt, uniefs it happen to be mixed with 

 fuch a number of annuals as will afford a Sufficiency of combuf- 

 tible matter for bringing the procefs to perfe£l:ion. 



Drainage tends greatly alfo to the improvement of fuch paftures 

 as I have been treating of, as it carries off' all fuperfluous water, 

 and prevents the food from being locked up by ice in time of 

 froft. Much judgment, however, is required, to know when it 

 can be done to advantage ; as, in fome cafes, the benefit received 

 will not prove an adequate indemnification to the expence incur- 

 red. In general it may be faid, that, on all foils abounding with 

 heath, ftool-bent and ling, on which there is much dependence 

 for winter meat, the procefs of draining is warrantable, and 

 ^iJl certainly repay in no great number of years j but that, wdicre 



deer- 



