J. 304- On the Ufe of Parjley as Food for Horfes and Cattle* 453 



to the conductor of the farmer's magazine. 



Sir, 



As your Magazine Is folely devoted to the purpofes of agri- 

 culture, every fa6t, and every experiment that tends to enlarge 

 our knowledge, and to promote the ends of that great national 

 concern, ought to have a place in it. I am induced, from this 

 motive, to lay before you an experiment upon a fmall fcale, 

 which I never heard had been made before, but which may in 

 time become of great public utility, if it (liall be found, upoa 

 farther trial, to fucceed as well as in the cafe to v»^hich I allude. 

 You may fully depend on the truth of the facl itfelf. 



A friend of mine having occafion to obferve the partiality of 

 black cattle for the common garden parlley, and their prefer- 

 ence of it, when growing, to almoft; any other green food, took 

 it in his head to try how it would fucceed in a field th*at he was 

 going to fow down for paflure. He accordingly fowed two or 

 three ridges with parilcy feed, and the red of the field with 

 clover and ryegrafs. As foon as the field was ready for paflure 

 he led his cattle into it, and it was perfectly evident that they 

 preferred that part which was fown with the parfley to any o- 

 ther part of the field, infomuch that they never touched the 

 reft while there was a fingle blade of parlley to be had. Horfes 

 were equally fond of it. He had not an opportunity to try 

 fheep upon it ; but the probability is, that they would, if pof- 

 fible, have been fonder of it, and thriven better, than any 

 of the other two. This, therefore, feems worthy of a far- 

 ther trial. We know that black cattle, flieep, horfes, and in- 

 deed every other animal, always prefer that food (when they 

 have it in their power to make a choice) that is mod agreeable 

 to them, and molt conducive to their health. We know alfa 

 that parfley is a molt wholefome vegetable for the human fpe- 

 cies. It is a powerful antifeptic. If we were to reafon from 

 analogy, we fiiould fuppofe that its beneficial properties fhould 

 extend to the animal creation in general. As it is a perennial 

 plant, it will anfwer well for fields that are to be laid down for 

 pafture for a confiderable while. Sheep, in particular, being 

 of a tender and delicate conllitution, and efpecially fubje£f to 

 bowel complaints, its antifeptic quality may be of great ufe to 

 corre61: thefe. The difficulty may be at firft to get the feed in 

 any confiderable quantity ; but that may foon be remedied. If 

 the experiment be thought worth while. I would fuppofe that 

 the ground upon which it is fown muft be good, in good con- 

 dition, and clean, otherwife it will not have a fair trial. 



Agricola. 



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