iSz On the Mafwgement cf Hay. April 



xlrying it : In that way, a confulcrablo proportion of it;; 

 natural juices are dilFipated 5 and by tlie time it is dry 

 enough tor putting into the (lack, it has loft not only its 

 flavour, but a great part of its mofh valuable properties -, 

 an evil tliat is farther increafcd, if much rain happen to 

 fall cither immediately after the cutting, or at any period 

 before it is put into cocks : In that cafe, a ftill greater 

 lofs of its nourifning properties, and a confequent diminu- 

 tion of its value, mull happen. 



The confequences of this management, are felt in a va- 

 riety of fhapes, in every diflrict where It prevails. In the 

 lower diftri£ls, the mifchief is comparatively fmall, owing 

 to the mildnefs of the Winters, the great quantity of rich 

 foggage every where to be met with, and the abundance 

 of corn ftraw, and other wholefome articles of food, with 

 whicli thefe parts abound. In the hilly and upland dif- 

 tri6ls, however, the cafe is very different ; and the lofs 

 arifing from the neglc6l and mifmanagement of their hay- 

 is great, almoft beyond calculation. In thefe elevated re- 

 gions, the Winters are, for the moft part, of uncommon 

 length and feverity ; little ftraw is produced ; fown grafles, 

 turnips, and potatoes, are equally fcarce : In that way, the 

 chief dependence of the farmer, for Winter food to his 

 ftock, falls upon the hay, which, wlien the quality is bad, 

 and other articles fcarce, induces debility and difeafe to 

 fuch a degree, that a great part of the ftock either die, or 

 are reduced to a ftate of extreme weaknefs during the 

 Winter ; and when the Spring arrives, the green food has 

 fuch an efFe£l upon tlie bowels of thofe who have fur- 

 vived, that riiany of them die alfo. 



The greateft part of the hay gi"own- in thefe parts, is 

 the produce of the wet fwampy grounds, and the plants, 

 of which it conllfts, are of a nature that requires much 

 judgement and attention to cure, in fuch a manner, as to 

 unite every advantage that might be expedied from their 

 life. When cut at a certain period of their growth, 

 there is perliaps no fpecies of herbage fweeter, or more 

 tender, or that contains more nourifhing juices, or is 

 more palatable to the animals fed with it, than meadow 

 hay. It has already been obferved, that, under the^pre- 

 fent fyftcni of management, the period moft proper for 

 catting hay, is lefs an objedl of attention than it ought 

 to be; Eipcricnce proves, that the greateft perfedlion 

 of the herbage is met with, either immediately before 



it 



