1 8cO, On the Great Utility of Tares. 49 



TO THE CONDUCTORS OF THE F.ARMEr's MAGAZINE. 



Gentlemen, 



I beg leave, through the channel of your publication, to fug- 

 geft the mofl produSive method of fowing 'Tares, when in- 

 tended for feed; which is, to mix them amongfl beans when 

 drilled, at the rate of one firlot of tares to one boll of beansi 

 ..From trials made, it is afcertained that the quality of the tares 

 is vaftly improved by being blended with beans, as, by cling- 

 ing to the latter, they are kept from the ground, and enjoy 

 the full benefit of the fun, for ripening them in a perfect 

 manner. They are in this way much eafier harvefted than 

 when fown by themfelves. They anfwer, at the fame time, 

 for bands to tie the principal crop; and the produce may, on 

 an average of feafons, be confidered as at leaft double. As 

 a confiderable quantity of tares are annually imported into 

 this country from England for feed, I am confident, if thejr 

 were fown in the w^ay now recommended, that we could 

 not only render this importation unneceflary, but alfo be able 

 to fupply other di{lri£ls where they might be wanted. 



It will be obvious, that when tares are intended for green 

 food, there is no neceflity for mixing them with beans. When 

 fuch is the purpofe, tliey require to be fown tolerably thick, 

 fo as the furface may be early covered; and if the ground is 

 good, and recently dunged, an acre of them will afford as much. 

 I^eep for horfes and cows, as can be gained from a full clover 

 crop; at leaft I found them lad feafon fully as beneficial-. 



One material object procured by fowing tares, is, that the 

 farmer is never at a lofs for a fufficient ftock of gree'n food, be 

 the feafon almoft what it will. They alfo come in with great 

 advantage betvvixt the firil and fecond cuttings of clover, or 

 when the latter fails, as was generally the cafe lad feafon. In- 

 deed, thofe farmers who were unprovided with tares, were at a 

 great lofs for meat to their horfes, after the mid:!Ie of Auguftj 

 and many had to refort to their hay flacks, which is one of the 

 caufes why that article is fo fcarce. To attain the full benefit 

 of this fpecies of green food, the fcwings ought to be at dif- 

 ferent times, beginning the firft as early as pcflible, fo as pro- 

 greffive cuttings may be got, without allov^-ing them to itand 

 till over ripe, when horfes are nor fond of them. In England, 

 they have a cufbom of fowing Winter tares; but I am appre- 

 henfive our climate will not admit of this pr.iftice; at iejfl, 

 from fome trials which have been made, expeftations were 

 difappomted. At any rate, Siimnier tares may be got for food 

 from the middle of July till the middle of November, and 

 in favourable feafons, even later. — I am, ice. A Farmer. 



YOL. I, NO. !. D Td 



