jSco. a Plati for mahug Hay from Hiath. IJ^ 



it is. cut at a proper period, and due pains taken to preferve it. 

 The value cf the dillerent kinds of ilraw and hay is fo well' 

 known, that it would be abfurd to attempt any reafoning upon 

 it- — Have we the leaft room to fuppofe, that heath, if cut at 

 a proper leafon, and well managed afterwards, would not alfo 

 be found highly ufeful ? 



Grov/ing in fituations vhere fcarce any tiling elfe will 

 thrive, the qualities of heath have not only been overlooked in 

 many inftances, but its very exiftence deemed a reproach up- 

 on the foil. That it was not confidered in the fame light by 

 our anceftors, is evident, from their underftanding its qualities 

 fo well, as to be able to prepare from it a fermented liquor, 

 of a highly agreeable flavour, aud an intoxicating quality, 

 which was ufed upon all their great occafions. Indeed, w^ 

 have a tolerable confirmation of this facf, by attending to the 

 pafture of bees upon heath j from which, in a given time, 

 they coUecl more honey than is ufually done from the richeft 

 fields of white clover during the fame fpace : and, as it is 

 now afcertained, that tlie food of bees is derived from the 

 fiiccharine or ferm.entable matter contained in the flowers 

 upon which they feed, and which acquires the diftinguifhing 

 properties of honey, merely by pafling through the veflels of 

 the infeft, and the particular organization of thefe veflels, it 

 rnay fafely be inferred, that heath, when properly managed, 

 contains properties greatly fuperior to what it is generally 

 thought to poflefs. AVere any dcubt to remain, additional 

 convi6tion would arife from the high flavour and other good 

 q\ialities of the Highland mutton, fo juftly celebrated over 

 the whole ifland, reared in fituations where the animals have 

 not any other .food but heath. 



In Sweden, the practice of cutting heath for Winter food 

 lias long prevailed ; and the heath-harveft, iji feme parts of 

 that country, is as regular, and as much attended to, as the 

 corn-harvell in the moft fertile provinces. Long experience 

 has taught the natives its value, and furniflied an example^ 

 that ought to be followed by other nations, fimilarly circum- 

 ftanced as to foil and climate. In that country, it conftitutcs 

 a bulky and efiential article cf Winter food, in many fitua- 

 tions where no other can be obtained. Little Coarfe hay is 

 produced in the Swedifli hills and uplands. Sown grafles 

 are unknown. Stra\V^ and turnips are equally fcarce, except 

 in the corn provinces ; and even there, the only broad-leaved 

 crop cultivated for Winter food, is the roota baga, or Swedifli 

 herb ; a Vegetable that unites, in a confiderable degree, the 



C c a qualities 



