356 Agriculture.—On Spring Pasture. . 
by the frost ; according to the experiments made in Englan 
with this plant, as related in Miller’s Gardiners’ Dictionary, 
it appears that, even in Great Britain, the crop is so scanty, 
as to render it an object unworthy of the attention of the 
armer. 
A species of vetch was recommended for a spring feed; 
but, by an experiment which was made, every plant was 
destroyed by the severity of the winter, or the sudden change 
from winter to the occasional summer heat of March. 
Excepting the winter grains, wheat and rye, I know of no 
plant that promises so much to the farmer, for the purpose 
of supplying his cattle with green food in the spring, as the 
woad (isatis tinctoria.) This plant is less affected by the 
temperature of the winter and spring months, than any other 
lant, unless it be those appropriately called evergreens. 
I's cultivated, so far as I have been able to learn, only for 
2 purpose of dying. © 
Sc sed in eiceieGests little, if at all, affected by 
the winter. It affords an abundant foliage ; which, together 
with the upper part of the root, is readily eaten by cows, in 
arch, April and May. The woad might be sown in July 
or August, after plowing in the stubble, and would make 
fine green feed for cattle in March and April. After the 
leaves and a part of the root are eaten by cattle, it will sprout 
again; and, probably, if eaten off in April, would be suffi- 
ciently grown, by the last of May, to be valuable to plow in 
as a green dressing for potatoes. This plant is extremely 
tenacious of life, and will flourish in a meagre, sandy soil. 
_Asmall piece of ground was sown, in June, with the seeds 
of the woad, which was fed by cows in April. They ate it 
very readily, and no unpleasant taste was given to the milk. 
i he experiment was made on a small scale; the cows sub- 
sisting on the woad but part of the time. ie ae 
It will require more experiments to determine the real 
mer for its growth, and it is, to a considerable extent, killed 
d 
2 severest frost, its foliage not being injured,—that 
1 is ly suspended by severe freezing weather, 
extended, and that it is nutritious to 
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